Kyrsten Sinema asks DOJ to investigate handling of Trump ally Roger Stone’s sentencing; McSally campaign sbaped by impeachment
By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | The Republic
In a short period, the Justice Department changed their prison recommendation for Roger Stone while four attorneys abruptly quit the prosecution team. USA TODAY
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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.
How Martha McSally’s handling of impeachment is shaping her 2020 campaign
When Sen. Martha McSally attacked a CNN reporter as a “liberal hack” and doubled down by raising money for her campaign and running victory laps on conservative TV, Rocky Gale made a worried note of the Arizona Republican’s maneuver.
A pastor from Prescott Valley who plans on voting for Trump again, Gale supported McSally, R-Ariz., for her votes to acquit President Donald Trump on two articles of impeachment alleging abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Gale, a 75-year-old veteran, also agreed with her votes to block additional witnesses.
But he bemoaned the political vitriol that is gripping the nation, and at times, his church. Gale was uncomfortable with McSally’s name-calling.
“We need to care for each other and not have hatred,” he said. “And I think some of the things that are said are hateful things.
“That ‘liberal hack’ comment? … I didn’t like that at all.”
The episode rallied the Republican base behind McSally and surely spiked her fundraising, which has lagged behind that of her Democratic rival’s. After she bashed the reporter, her campaign included the video footage in pleas for campaign donations and provided “liberal hack” T-shirts to donors.
