Kyrsten Sinema asks DOJ to investigate handling of Trump ally Roger Stone's sentencing

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has asked the Department of Justice’s inspector general to investigate the events surrounding the change in sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone, the longtime ally of President Donald Trump who was convicted of lying to Congress and obstructing the Russia investigation to protect the president and his campaign.

Sinema, D-Ariz., who voted to confirm Attorney General Willam Barr’s nomination last year, asked for the inquiry in a letter Wednesday to Inspector General Michael Horowitz.

“Improper political interference in criminal proceedings and sentencing recommendations, if it occurred, raises serious moral and ethical questions about the independent and impartial application of the law,” wrote Sinema, an attorney.

“The DOJ, though under the purview of the executive branch, has long functioned as an independent administrator of the law. To ensure justice continues to be applied impartially, it is critical the prosecutorial and sentencing recommendations of the DOJ attorneys be insulated from inappropriate political influence.”

A spokeswoman for the DOJ inspector general declined to comment Thursday to The Arizona Republic.

After Stone’s conviction last November, prosecutors initially recommended that he serve seven years to nine years in prison.

But after Trump tweeted the recommendation was unfair and a “miscarriage of justice," the Justice Department said it would reduce the sentencing recommendation, prompting the exodus of several career prosecutors from the case.

On Wednesday, Trump heaped praise on Barr for “taking charge” of the Stone matter.

Some Senate Republicans have expressed displeasure with Trump’s Twitter commentary on the case, but said this week it does not warrant the investigations that Sinema, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats are calling for.

“I don't think he should be commenting on cases in the system," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "I don't think that's appropriate."

Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., said it is “entirely appropriate that leadership would intervene if they see an injustice.”

Barr is scheduled to testify before the Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee in March. Democrats plan to question him about the decision to propose a reduced sentence for Stone.

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