Our live coverage of Roger Stone's sentencing has ended. You can scroll through the posts below to read more or follow CNNPolitics.
Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison
By Meg Wagner and Mike Hayes, CNN
Updated 4:03 p.m. ET, February 20, 2020
29 Posts
Sort by
Stone watched Trump discuss his case on his phone from a DC restaurant
From CNN's Evan Perez and Shimon Prokupecz
Hours after he was sentenced to more than three years in prison, Roger Stone sat in a Washington, DC restaurant, using a phone to watch as President Trump talked about Stone’s sentence.
Stone, sitting among a group of people at The Palm, appeared calm as he sat with his jacket off at a table in the center of the room.
Earlier Thursday, US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone, an adviser and friend to Trump, to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress and threatening a witness regarding his efforts for the President's 2016 campaign. Stone also received two-years probation on each count, running concurrently. He must undergo substance abuse testing, participate in community service and pay a $20,000 fine.
Asked if he was expecting good news today, Stone told CNN reporters, “I don’t know, that’s why we’re watching. The President is speaking right now.”
The President didn't rule out an eventual pardon or commutation, but said the process should play out first.
"At some point I'll make a determination, but Roger Stone and everybody has to be treated fairly. And this has not been a fair process," Trump said.
Stone later told CNN reporters the gag order is still in place but he offered a compliment before going off to eat grilled chicken paillard.
Trump says he won't pardon Roger Stone right now
From CNN's Jason Hoffman
President Trump said he won't act to grant clemency to Roger Stone right now, saying he wanted the process to play out before making a decision.
“I’m not going to do anything in terms of the great powers bestowed upon a President of the United States, I want the process play out, I think that’s the best thing to do," Trump said today in Las Vegas. "Because I’d love to see Roger exonerated, and I’d love to see it happen because I personally think he was treated very unfairly.”
Trump didn't rule out an eventual pardon or commutation, but said the process should play out first.
"At some point I'll make a determination, but Roger Stone and everybody has to be treated fairly. And this has not been a fair process," Trump said.
Trump says Roger Stone has "very good chance of exoneration"
From CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Jason Hoffman
President Trump said his friend and former associate Roger Stone "has a very good chance of exoneration."
Speaking hours after Stone was sentenced to more than three years in prison, Trump said he was following the matter closely and "want to see it play out to its fullest."
Trump called Stone a "character" and said he likes him.
"He's a smart guy, he's a little different, but those are sometimes the most interesting. But he's a good person. His family is fantastic," Trump said at a criminal justice reform event.
"Roger was never involved in the Trump campaign for president," Trump said. "Early on before I announced, he may have done a little consulting work or something."
Trump went on to attack the forewoman of the jury, calling her an “anti-Trump activist.”
Here's what Roger Stone and his supporters were doing during his sentencing
From CNN's Marshall Cohen
Before the hearing began, Roger Stone watched attentively as the pews filled with reporters, friends, family, and well-wishers.
There was a large cohort from the Justice Department in attendance, but none of the Robert Mueller prosecutors who handled Stone’s case. Many of those prosecutors attended past sentencing hearings for key players.
During the hearing, Stone paid close attention and took notes while his lawyer argued that he never really threatened witness Randy Credico.
Later, Stone fidgeted around in his seat while Judge Jackson explained how he lied to the court and obstructed the proceedings, including when he posted an image of her in crosshairs on his social media page.
Stone’s stepdaughter leaned forward at times, with her hands clasped in front of her face, while Jackson delivered Stone’s sentence.
Michael Caputo, a longtime Stone friend and colleague, was hunched over at times, staring at the ground while the sentence was read.
Another one of Stone’s supporters sat with his hands in front of his face, covering his eyes.
After the verdict was delivered and the court adjourned, some of the Justice Department lawyers who watched the case were overheard praising Jackson and how she handled the hearing. One woman said it’s “amazing how her brain works so quickly.”
After the hearing, Stone exited the courtroom with a smirk, looking at the crowd of reporters and supporters who gathered to see him leave. He declined to comment on the sentence.
While Stone was walking around the courthouse, doing paperwork, someone apparently tried to film him. This drew a swift and loud rebuke from the court staff, who reminded the crowd that recordings aren’t permitted inside the courthouse.
“Let the marshals do their job,” Stone said.
Roger Stone leaves the courthouse after sentencing
Roger Stone left the US District Court in DC with a smile on his face.
He did not speak before getting into a black SUV.
Watch Roger Stone leave court:
Stone will also pay a $20,000 fine
From CNN's Katelyn Polantz
US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has sentenced Roger Stone, an adviser and friend to President Trump, to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress and threatening a witness regarding his efforts for the President's 2016 campaign.
Stone also receive two-years probation on each count, running concurrently. He must also...
- Have substance abuse testing
- Do community service
- Pay a $20,000 fine
Jackson said she is transferring supervision of his release to Southern District of Florida. She will determine later whether he will have a reentry progress hearing.
Stone's hearing is over
Roger Stone's sentencing hearing just wrapped up after judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced the Trump ally to three years and four months in prison.
Prosecutors initially asked for seven to nine years in prison — but Attorney General William Barr retracted that recommendation hours after Trump criticized it on Twitter for being too harsh.
Four prosecutors withdrew from the case in response to Barr's decision. Two new DC US Attorney's Office supervisors stepped up to handle Stone's sentencing, and a new sentencing memo was released asking for "far less" time. Today, one of the new prosecutors said the Justice Department stands by the original sentencing memo and argued that "the court should impose a substantial period of incarceration" on Stone.
JUST IN: Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison
Judge Amy Berman Jackson has sentenced Trump ally Roger Stone to 40 months in prison. He was convicted last year on seven charges of obstruction, lying to Congress and witness tampering.
Prosecutors initially asked for seven to nine years in prison — but Attorney General William Barr retracted that recommendation hours after Trump criticized it on Twitter for being too harsh.
Four prosecutors withdrew from the case in response to Barr's decision. Two new DC US Attorney's Office supervisors stepped up to handle Stone's sentencing, and a new sentencing memo was released asking for "far less" time.
Today, one of the new prosecutors said the Justice Department stands by the original sentencing memo and argued that "the court should impose a substantial period of incarceration" on Stone.
Watch CNN: