The Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz's report established there was no evidence that then-President Donald Trump interfered with Attorney General Bill Barr's decision to alter Roger Stone's sentence in 2020.
The Washington Examiner reported that Barr’s decision was discretionary and not influenced by Trump’s public criticism of the initial sentencing recommendation for Stone.
DOJ Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz released a comprehensive report stating that there was no evidence President Trump forced Attorney General Bill Barr to lessen Roger Stone's sentencing in 2020.
The document emphasized that Barr’s choice to alter the prosecutors' recommendation was allowed by law and within his discretionary power.
The Inspector General found that no existing law, rule, regulation, or DOJ policy barred Barr from participating in Stone's sentencing decision.
In November 2019, a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C., found Roger Stone guilty on seven counts, including lying under oath to Congress and interfering with a House investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign’s supposed ties with Russia.
Federal prosecutors initially recommended a prison sentence ranging from seven to nine years for Stone in early 2020.
This recommendation was overridden by high-ranking DOJ officials, who opted for a milder sentence, leading to the resignation of four prosecutors involved in the case.
The Office of Inspector General concluded that Barr’s decision to adjust the sentence recommendation was within his discretionary authority.
Barr believed the original sentencing suggestion was excessively harsh and sought to rectify what he saw as an unjust recommendation.
Interim U.S. Attorney Timothy Shea consulted with Barr, and both agreed to propose a sentence below federal guidelines after extensive discussions between Shea's office and Barr.
Barr maintained he had no involvement in Stone’s case until Interim U.S. Attorney Shea consulted him.
Barr learned from news outlets that the sentencing recommendation made by prosecutors differed from what Shea previously communicated to him.
This discrepancy led Barr to mandate a correction in the recommendation, which occurred prior to President Trump’s public comment on the matter.
Prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky testified to Congress, asserting that Stone received preferential treatment, although the Inspector General’s report found Zelinsky's belief was not unreasonable but was based on speculation.
The report noted comments from other prosecutors that complicated the matter, preventing a conclusion of knowingly false testimony by Zelinsky.
Ultimately, Roger Stone received a three-year prison sentence. However, President Trump commuted Stone's sentence in 2020 and later pardoned him in December 2020.
The DOJ watchdog conducted interviews with 24 current and former department attorneys, including Shea and Zelinsky; however, Barr declined to participate in the investigation.
Inspector General Horowitz reiterated that there were no legal or ethical violations in Barr’s handling of Stone’s sentencing. Barr’s actions were within the permissible scope of his authority.
The report underscored that discretionary decisions by high-ranking officials, such as Barr’s involvement in Stone’s case, are common and legal.
A report from DOJ Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz confirmed that there is no evidence suggesting President Trump influenced Attorney General Bill Barr to reduce Roger Stone's sentence.
Barr acted within his authority, adjusting a sentencing recommendation he deemed unjust. This decision followed Stone's 2019 conviction for obstructing Congress and lying under oath.
Although top DOJ officials overruled the initial sentence suggestion, prompting four prosecutors to resign, Barr's actions were within legal and ethical bounds.
Despite concerns of preferential treatment, the report found these beliefs not unreasonable but speculative. Stone’s sentence was commuted and later pardoned by Trump. Interviews with DOJ attorneys supported the report's findings, all highlighting that Barr's decisions were lawful and discretionary.
