Robert Mueller: Roger Stone remains a convicted felon, and rightly so
The work of the special counsels office its report, indictments, guilty pleas and convictions should speak for itself. But I feel compelled to respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper, and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office. The Russia investigation was of paramount importance. Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so.
Russias actions were a threat to Americas democracy. It was critical that they be investigated and understood. By late 2016, the FBI had evidence that the Russians had signaled to a Trump campaign adviser that they could assist the campaign through the anonymous release of information damaging to the Democratic candidate. And the FBI knew that the Russians had done just that: Beginning in July 2016, WikiLeaks released emails stolen by Russian military intelligence officers from the Clinton campaign. Other online personas using false names fronts for Russian military intelligence also released Clinton campaign emails.
Following FBI Director James B. Comeys termination in May 2017, the acting attorney general named me as special counsel and directed the special counsels office to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The order specified lines of investigation for us to pursue, including any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign. One of our cases involved Stone, an official on the campaign until mid-2015 and a supporter of the campaign throughout 2016. Stone became a central figure in our investigation for two key reasons: He communicated in 2016 with individuals known to us to be Russian intelligence officers, and he claimed advance knowledge of WikiLeaks release of emails stolen by those Russian intelligence officers.
We now have a detailed picture of Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election. The special counsels office identified two principal operations directed at our election: hacking and dumping Clinton campaign emails, and an online social media campaign to disparage the Democratic candidate. We also identified numerous links between the Russian government and Trump campaign personnel Stone among them. We did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in its activities. The investigation did, however, establish that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome. It also established that the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/11/mueller-stone-oped/
Mueller finally speaks!
sfstaxprep
(9,998 posts)Before Dipshit leaves office on 1/20/21, he'll pardon Everybody.
dixiechiken1
(2,113 posts)In order to accept the pardon, though?
elleng
(131,338 posts)'applied' for.
Pardoning is worse for (I can't even type his name). A pardon makes it so you can't claim the 5th, and you would have to testified if called. Commutation works out better for them. Stone remains a felon, but serves no time in prison. And he can still claim the 5th if subpoenaed to testify.
dixiechiken1
(2,113 posts)So chances are, he'll neither want nor seek/accept a pardon. What does he care if he's a convicted felon? Not like that'll affect future job prospects for a dirty trickster such as himself. And double bonus for him and everyone/anyone else involved, he never has to tell what he knows. This is bullshit.
Anyway, thanks for the clarification, Nic!