Few hours after the US President Donald Trump commuted the jail sentence for Roger Stone and the White House called him a 'free man', former special counsel Robert Mueller has come out to defend his officer's prosecution and said that Stone is still a convicted felon.

Talking about Stone's misdeed, Mueller wrote, "Congress also investigated and sought information from Stone. A jury later determined he lied repeatedly to members of Congress. He lied about the identity of his intermediary to WikiLeaks. He lied about the existence of written communications with his intermediary. He lied by denying he had communicated with the Trump campaign about the timing of WikiLeaks' releases. He in fact updated senior campaign officials repeatedly about WikiLeaks. And he tampered with a witness, imploring him to stonewall Congress," Mueller wrote in the op-ed piece published in the Washington Post on Saturday evening.

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The write-up was published on the same day when Donald Trump took to twitter to call Stone's sentence a result of a "witch hunt".

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Roger Stone was targeted by an illegal Witch Hunt that never should have taken place. It is the other side that are criminals, including Biden and Obama, who spied on my campaign - AND GOT CAUGHT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1281927265589309441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Mueller feels that the friendship of Stone and Trump may have benefited Stone but the truth is that Stone still is a convicted felon and "rightly so".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-commutes-longtime-adviser-roger-stones-prison-sentence-312432">Also read:&nbsp;Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence</a>&nbsp;

"The jury ultimately convicted Stone of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness. Because his sentence has been commuted, he will not go to prison. But his conviction stands," he wrote.

Defending the sentence, Mueller said the decision was taken after gathering all the facts and information. He further added that all the investigators and prosecutors behind this case acted with the highest integrity and dismissed all claims against the team of investigators and prosecutors.

"We made every decision in Stone's case, as in all our cases, based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law. The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Claims to the contrary are false," Mueller wrote.

Trump's move to commute Stone saved him from serving a 40-months long sentence in prison. The decision taken by Trump has had mixed reactions, although many believe that this was yet another move to save and assist a political ally, especially with the US Presidential elections coming up in few months.

Few hours after the US President Donald Trump commuted the jail sentence for Roger Stone and the White House called him a 'free man', former special counsel Robert Mueller has come out to defend his officer's prosecution and said that Stone is still a convicted felon.

Few hours after the US President Donald Trump commuted the jail sentence for Roger Stone and the White House called him a 'free man', former special counsel Robert Mueller has come out to defend his officer's prosecution and said that Stone is still a convicted felon. Talking about Stone's misdeed, Mueller wrote, "Congress also investigated and sought information from Stone. A jury later determined he lied repeatedly to members of Congress. He lied about the identity of his intermediary to WikiLeaks. He lied about the existence of written communications with his intermediary. He lied by denying he had communicated with the Trump campaign about the timing of WikiLeaks' releases. He in fact updated senior campaign officials repeatedly about WikiLeaks. And he tampered with a witness, imploring him to stonewall Congress," Mueller wrote in the op-ed piece published in the Washington Post on Saturday evening. × The write-up was published on the same day when Donald Trump took to twitter to call Stone's sentence a result of a "witch hunt". Roger Stone was targeted by an illegal Witch Hunt that never should have taken place. It is the other side that are criminals, including Biden and Obama, who spied on my campaign - AND GOT CAUGHT! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 11, 2020 × Mueller feels that the friendship of Stone and Trump may have benefited Stone but the truth is that Stone still is a convicted felon and "rightly so". Also read: Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence "The jury ultimately convicted Stone of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness. Because his sentence has been commuted, he will not go to prison. But his conviction stands," he wrote. Defending the sentence, Mueller said the decision was taken after gathering all the facts and information. He further added that all the investigators and prosecutors behind this case acted with the highest integrity and dismissed all claims against the team of investigators and prosecutors. "We made every decision in Stone's case, as in all our cases, based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law. The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Claims to the contrary are false," Mueller wrote. Trump's move to commute Stone saved him from serving a 40-months long sentence in prison. The decision taken by Trump has had mixed reactions, although many believe that this was yet another move to save and assist a political ally, especially with the US Presidential elections coming up in few months.

Roger Stone's still a convicted felon: Robert Mueller defends the prosecutors' decision

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

"Roger Stone has already suffered greatly," the White House said in a statement. "He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!"

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/facebook-takes-down-accounts-and-pages-of-trump-ally-roger-stone-311886">Also read:&nbsp;Facebook takes down accounts and pages of Trump ally Roger Stone</a>

Stone, 67, was scheduled to report by Tuesday to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, to begin serving a sentence of three years and four months for lying under oath to US lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

A commutation does not erase a criminal conviction as a pardon does.

The veteran Republican political operative`s friendship with Trump dates back decades.

Stone was among several Trump associates charged with crimes in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 race to boost Trump`s candidacy.

In announcing its clemency decision for Stone, the White House took aim at Mueller`s investigation and the prosecutors who brought the case against Stone. The White House said Stone "is victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency."

"There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election," the White House said.

Trump`s decision to commute Stone`s sentence marks his most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally.

Congressional Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of undermining the rule of law by publicly complaining about criminal cases against associates including Stone, former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff condemned Trump`s action, saying: "With this commutation, Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else."

A Washington jury in November 2019 convicted Stone on all seven criminal counts of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness.

Stone was convicted for lying to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump`s 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers.

The U.S. Constitution gives a president the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." Trump`s use of this executive clemency often has benefited allies and well-connected political figures.

He pardoned hardline former Arizona county sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Republican White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, conservative commentator Dinesh D`Souza and convicted "junk bond king" Michael Milken. He also commuted the prison sentence of Democratic former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been a contestant on Trump`s former reality TV show.

Stone has been a fixture in American partisan battles dating to the 1970s. Stone, a colourful figure known for his natty attire, has labelled himself an "agent provocateur" and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back.

Trump repeatedly lashed out on Twitter about Stone`s case, accusing prosecutors of being corrupt, the juror forewoman of political bias and the judge of treating his friend unfairly.

Late on Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia denied Stone`s request for a delay in reporting to prison.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.

President Donald Trump on Friday commuted the sentence of his longtime friend and adviser Roger Stone, sparing him from prison after he was convicted of lying under oath to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. "Roger Stone has already suffered greatly," the White House said in a statement. "He was treated very unfairly, as were many others in this case. Roger Stone is now a free man!" Also read: Facebook takes down accounts and pages of Trump ally Roger Stone Stone, 67, was scheduled to report by Tuesday to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, to begin serving a sentence of three years and four months for lying under oath to US lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. A commutation does not erase a criminal conviction as a pardon does. The veteran Republican political operative`s friendship with Trump dates back decades. Stone was among several Trump associates charged with crimes in former Special Counsel Robert Mueller`s investigation that documented Russian interference in the 2016 race to boost Trump`s candidacy. In announcing its clemency decision for Stone, the White House took aim at Mueller`s investigation and the prosecutors who brought the case against Stone. The White House said Stone "is victim of the Russia Hoax that the Left and its allies in the media perpetuated for years in an attempt to undermine the Trump Presidency." "There was never any collusion between the Trump Campaign, or the Trump Administration, with Russia. Such collusion was never anything other than a fantasy of partisans unable to accept the result of the 2016 election," the White House said. Trump`s decision to commute Stone`s sentence marks his most assertive intervention to protect an associate in a criminal case and his latest use of executive clemency to benefit an ally. Congressional Democrats and other critics have accused Trump of undermining the rule of law by publicly complaining about criminal cases against associates including Stone, former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff condemned Trump`s action, saying: "With this commutation, Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else." A Washington jury in November 2019 convicted Stone on all seven criminal counts of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness. Stone was convicted for lying to the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump`s 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that U.S. intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers. The U.S. Constitution gives a president the "power to grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." Trump`s use of this executive clemency often has benefited allies and well-connected political figures. He pardoned hardline former Arizona county sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Republican White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, conservative commentator Dinesh D`Souza and convicted "junk bond king" Michael Milken. He also commuted the prison sentence of Democratic former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who had been a contestant on Trump`s former reality TV show. Stone has been a fixture in American partisan battles dating to the 1970s. Stone, a colourful figure known for his natty attire, has labelled himself an "agent provocateur" and famously has the face of former President Richard Nixon tattooed on his back. Trump repeatedly lashed out on Twitter about Stone`s case, accusing prosecutors of being corrupt, the juror forewoman of political bias and the judge of treating his friend unfairly. Late on Friday, the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia denied Stone`s request for a delay in reporting to prison.

Trump commutes longtime adviser Roger Stone's prison sentence

A US federal judge on Sunday denied a request by Roger Stone's lawyers that she be removed from the case in which she last week sentenced the long-time adviser to President Donald Trump to three years and four months in prison.

A US federal judge on Sunday denied a request by Roger Stone's lawyers that she be removed from the case in which she last week sentenced the long-time adviser to President Donald Trump to three years and four months in prison. US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had been accused of bias by Stone's attorneys in a filing on Friday that called for her recusal. Stone, 67, was convicted on November 15 of lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Also Read: Trump's longtime ally Roger Stone jailed for 40 months for impeding congressional probe In a court filing on Sunday, Jackson rejected his lawyers' arguments and defended her impartiality. Trump has also complained about the judge in posts on Twitter. He has said he has no immediate plans to pardon Stone and would let the legal process play out, but that "at some point, I'm going to decide." Watch: Roger Stone sentenced for lying in Russia probe In sentencing Stone on Thursday, Jackson said the veteran Republican operative's lies to lawmakers investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election amounted to a threat to American democracy. Stone was convicted of lying to the Intelligence Committee about his attempts to contact WikiLeaks, the website that released damaging emails about Trump's 2016 Democratic election rival Hillary Clinton that US intelligence officials have concluded were stolen by Russian hackers.

Roger Stone requests removal of judge reviewing his case; request is denied