#DOJ says Roger Stone’s prison sentence shouldn’t be delayed

The Justice Department won’t stand in the way of Roger Stone, a longtime political ally of President Trump, reporting to federal prison next week, according to a report.

Stone, convicted of lying to Congress and obstructing the Russia investigation, appealed to a federal appeals court to delay his prison term until September because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In a filing, the Justice Department said the July 14 date set by the federal judge is “a reasonable exercise of that court’s discretion based on the totality of the factual and legal circumstances,” CNN reported on Thursday.

Stone’s legal team asked the US Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, Circuit Court on Monday to delay his reporting to the Georgia prison.

They argued that presiding federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson “largely failed to address the evidence that Stone provided that demonstrates that he is at considerable risk from serious health consequences, including death, if his surrender date is not extended until September 3.”

Berman Jackson denied the request because there are no coronavirus cases at the facility, but she granted a two-week delay.

Stone, 67, is appealing his November conviction and 40-month prison sentence.

The Justice Department had been criticized for giving preferential treatment to Stone.

Aaron Zelinsky, a prosecutor in former special counsel Robert Mueller’s team and who handled the Stone case, testified to the House last month that the Justice Department treated Stone differently because of his relationship with the president.

With Post wires