I don't interpret Stone's 40 month sentence as "the judge caved" or "bowed to pressure".

[Atticus]

I believe that Judge Amy Berman Jackson expects Stone to be pardoned but, by specifically stating that he "lied to protect the President" and by sentencing him to just half of the only specific number of months the DOJ requested, she has made a pardon more politically painful for Trump. And, in the event Trump does not pardon Stone right away, she has made a record that will make it more difficult for an appellate court to find an abuse of discretion.

Like most here, I believe Stone should not be let out of prison till he is moss-covered, but this judge has to deal with the real world and genuine legal concerns. I think her patience and restraint were admirable and her sentencing decision---and her comments--- were in the finest tradition of an independent judiciary.

[msongs]

1. trump waited for sentencing first so he can make stone squirm - trump is a sadist nt

[justhanginon]

2. Good post. I concur with your reasoning.

[Bonhomme Richard]

3. That is exactly what I thought. n/t

[barbtries]

4. it's not a small sentence.

it's years in prison. did they take him straightaway? otherwise he won't do a day if trump pardons.

[BigmanPigman]

7. I just heard that he walked out the fron door

on Nicole Wallace's show.

[barbtries]

8. yeah,

THAT'S the part that's really fucked up imo

[Fullduplexxx]

5. From robert reich.... 3 years and 4 months for lying to Congress, threatening a witness, impeding a

3 years and 4 months for lying to Congress, threatening a witness, impeding a federal investigation, and betraying the country. I can’t help but think of Crystal Mason, who was sentenced to five years in prison for mistakenly casting a ballot while on supervised release. Or the Georgia teen with no criminal record, who was sentenced to five years in jail for stealing $100 sneakers. Or the hundreds of thousands of people languishing in prison for low-level drug offenses. Or the hundreds of thousands more who are wasting away in cold jail cells only because they cannot afford bail. Our criminal justice system serves no true justice, only undeserved leniency or cruel punishment. Your thoughts?

[Atticus]

6. I don't disagree, but note that he is apparently comparing and contrasting state court

outcomes with a federal sentence requiring many different considerations. That said, it is apparent that "justice" is often the last term we'd use to describe the product of some courts.

Given the system she was required to work within, I still say Judge Amy Berman Jackson did a great job.