Senate

Graham: Trump has ‘all the legal authority in the world’ to pardon Stone

by Jordain Carney - 02/20/20 1:52 PM ET

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Thursday that President Trump has the authority to pardon associate Roger Stone or reduce his 40-month prison sentence.

“Under our system of justice President Trump has all the legal authority in the world to review this case, in terms of commuting the sentence or pardoning Mr. Stone for the underlying offense,” Graham wrote in a string of tweets about Stone.

Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Stone to three years and four months in prison for lying to Congress and witness tampering.

The sentencing follows more than a week of intense scrutiny over the case after the Justice Department decided to overrule frontline federal prosecutors and ask for a sentence of “far less” than the original seven to nine years recommended.

Graham, a close ally of Trump’s, noted that the Stone sentence was on the lower end of the sentencing guidelines of the crimes he has been convicted of.

“It is important to give both the government and the accused a fair trial free from influence,” he said. “I believe this has been accomplished in Mr. Stone’s case.

“Like all Americans, Mr. Stone can appeal the fairness of his trial and the verdict rendered,” he added.

The potential that Trump could pardon Stone has hung over the courtroom drama.

The president said publicly this week that he hasn’t given it any thought, but a round of high-profile pardons and commutations this week was seen by many as a message intended for Stone and other Trump associates facing prison time.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), an ally of Trump’s, said during an interview with “The View” that he thought Stone should be pardoned.

“I would agree that Roger Stone should be pardoned, if for no other reason than there has been a double standard in this country where people like Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, Andrew McCabe … have not faced consequences,” he said.

Democrats, however, have publicly warned Trump against pardoning Stone.

“His sentence is justified. It should go without saying, but to pardon Stone when his crimes were committed to protect Trump would be a breathtaking act of corruption,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) tweeted on Thursday.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, added: “Justice has been served. Let’s see if the rule of law stands.”