Longtime President Donald Trump associate Roger Stone could be headed to jail for up to nine years after federal prosecutors in Washington D.C. recommended that Stone serve seven to nine years in prison after he was convicted of false statements and witness tampering charges related to the Russia investigation last year.
The request by prosecutors was made in a 26-page sentencing memorandum filed in Washington D.C. on Monday. Prosecutors called the sentence consistent with federal sentencing guidelines.
"Roger Stone obstructed Congress's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, lied under oath, and tampered with a witness," prosecutors wrote in the memorandum. "When his crimes were revealed by the indictment in this case, he displayed contempt for this Court and the rule of law."
In November 2019, a jury convicted Stone of lying to Congress and obstructing an investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors portrayed Stone as a serial liar who obstructed the House's investigation because the truth would have been embarrassing to Trump's campaign. Five government witnesses alongside dozens of emails and texts were introduced into evidence by prosecutors who said they showed Stone had repeatedly lied to the committee.
The indictment against Stone was one of the last brought by special counsel Robert Muller, who was investigating the Trump campaign's interest in emails hacked by Russia and released by WikiLeaks.
President Trump prompted speculation that he may offer a pardon to Stone after he retweeted an article about the potentially lengthy sentence, calling it a "very unfair situation."
"This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them," Trump tweeted Tuesday. "Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!"
Previously, Trump has previously stated that he has not thought about issuing a pardon for Stone, but added that "I think it's very tough what they did to Roger Stone compared to what they do to other people, on their side."
Stone is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.
Photo: Getty Images