Democrats want yet another investigation into Donald Trump, this time involving his tweets about the sentencing of his longtime associate Roger Stone after the Department of Justice revealed Tuesday that it will be reducing the “excessive and unwarranted” sentencing recommendation of its prosecutors.
“By tweet [President Trump] engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) tweeted Tuesday evening. “It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation. Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended & actions of DOJ should be investigated.”
By tweet @realDonaldTrump engaged in political interference in the sentencing of Roger Stone. It is outrageous that DOJ has deeply damaged the rule of law by withdrawing its recommendation. Stepping down of prosecutors should be commended & actions of DOJ should be investigated.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 12, 2020
Pelosi isn’t the only Democratic leader calling for an investigation into Trump’s tweets. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is also demanding action over the Justice Department’s intervention, as reported by The Associated Press, while the man who helmed the impeachment inquiry, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA), is decrying the DOJ’s move as evidence of Trump trying to “cover up his own misconduct.”
The Justice Department intervening “would send an unmistakable message that President Trump will protect those who lie to Congress to cover up his own misconduct, and that the Attorney General will join him in that effort,” said Schiff.
But Trump says he’s got every right to express his disapproval of the handling of the Stone case, telling reporters Tuesday, “I have the absolute right to do it.”
“I stay out of things to a degree that people wouldn’t believe, but I didn’t speak to them,” he added, as reported by AP.
The Justice Department, meanwhile, says its decision to revise the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night, before Trump first tweeted out his criticism and without consultation with the White House, AP notes.
After federal prosecutors filed a memorandum Monday recommending Stone serve seven to nine years (between 87 and 108 months) in federal prison for process crimes stemming for the congressional investigation into alleged Trump-Russia “collusion,” — a recommendation the Justice Department has since rebuked as “excessive and unwarranted” — Trump unloaded on the “miscarriage of justice” Tuesday morning.
“This is a horrible and very unfair situation,” Trump tweeted in what was to be the first of a series of posts on the case throughout the day (posts below). “The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!”
“All starting to unravel with the ridiculous 9 year sentence recommendation!” the president tweeted in response to reports that the DOJ would be reducing the sentencing.
“And a swamp creature with ‘pull’ was just sentenced to two months in jail for a similar thing that they want Stone to serve 9 years for. A phony Mueller Witch Hunt disgrace. Caught!” Trump added in another post.
“Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought,” the president wrote in a follow-up tweet. “Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!”
“Two months in jail for a Swamp Creature, yet 9 years recommended for Roger Stone (who was not even working for the Trump Campaign),” Trump added in another post. “Gee, that sounds very fair! Rogue prosecutors maybe? The Swamp!”
This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice! https://t.co/rHPfYX6Vbv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 11, 2020
All starting to unravel with the ridiculous 9 year sentence recommendation! https://t.co/6baxv3Lvuk
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
…And a swamp creature with “pull” was just sentenced to two months in jail for a similar thing that they want Stone to serve 9 years for. A phony Mueller Witch Hunt disgrace. Caught! https://t.co/6baxv3Lvuk
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
Congratulations to Attorney General Bill Barr for taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought. Evidence now clearly shows that the Mueller Scam was improperly brought & tainted. Even Bob Mueller lied to Congress!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
Two months in jail for a Swamp Creature, yet 9 years recommended for Roger Stone (who was not even working for the Trump Campaign). Gee, that sounds very fair! Rogue prosecutors maybe? The Swamp! @foxandfriends @TuckerCarlson
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2020
This article has been revised for clarity.