Why this Roger Stone commutation is not as controversial as some think | TheHill

The White House issued a statement that Stone is a victim of the Russia hoax. The fact is that Stone is a victim of himself. Years of what he called his performance art finally caught up with him when he realized federal prosecutors who were not amused by his antics. Stone defines himself as an agent provocateur. He crossed the line when he called witnesses to influence their testimony and gave false answers to investigators.

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But criticism of this commutation immediately seemed to be decoupled from any foundation in history or in the Constitution. Indeed, Toobin also declared, This is simply not done by American presidents. They do not pardon or commute sentences of people who are close to them or about to go to prison. It just does not happen until this president. In reality, the commutation of Stone barely stands out in the old gallery of White House pardons, which are the most consistently and openly abused power in the Constitution. This authority under Article Two is stated in absolute terms, and some presidents have wielded it with absolute abandon.

via thehill.com

Jonathan Turley.