Thread by @DelWilber

All Rise. U.S. District Court in session for USA vs. Roger Stone
Sentencing.

Jackson launching into a soliloquy about how sentencing guidelines work and how she won't be bound by rigid mathematical formula. "That is only one part of the analysis," she said.

Jackson orders someone to take off his/her sunglasses.

Stone's lawyer Seth Ginsberg argues that Judge Jackson should not add an enhancement for Stone's threats to Credico, a witness in the case: "The words themselves, threatening on their face, ... are not threatening at all."

More Ginsberg: "The words themselves did not constitute a threat at all. Mr. Stone is known for using rough, provocative and hyperbolic language." This was "Stone being Stone," he added.
Stone threatened witness' dog and to kill him, according to prosecutors.

Ginsberg calls the 8-level increase for threatening Credico a "very blunt instrument." He notes that Credico filed a letter saying he didn't feel threatened.
prosecutors have to address why they changed their position on this. Orig prosecutors thought he deserved enhancement.

!! John Crabb, new prosecutor, urges judge to apply that enhancement for threats !!

Judge Jackson seems to be quite annoyed by Stone's behavior and obstructing investigations.

First time I have ever heard a federal judge use the word "cocksucker" in court. Judge quoting from threats Stone made to Credico.

Judge side with prosecutors that the enhancement for threats apply in this case. not good for Stone.

Crabb, prosecutor, says another enhancement should apply because Stone tried to obstructed the investigation.

This is the enhancement for obstructing the House investigation. Prosecutors want him to be sentenced more severely because he got Credico and Corsi not to cooperate with the House Intel committee investigation into Russian interference.

I am very curious how Jackson feels about Stone's instagram post with a photo of the judge next to cross hairs. Prosecutors want his sentence boosted for that offense.

Judge sides w/ prosecutors and will accept enhancement for obstructing Congress. "This obstruction led the committee to reach incorrect conclusions."
Judge gets 2-level enhancement for alliteration:
obstruction resulted in an "inaccurate, incomplete and incomplete" report.

Crabb says another enhancement applies because Stone's obstruction of Congress was extensive in scope. "There were a series of lies made to the committee, false letters to the committee .... the obstructive behavior was extensive in scope."

Judge disagrees and says this enhancement does not apply. Not going to add two levels for that one.

Crabb, prosecutor, says govt believes sentence should be enhanced because Stone kept trying to obstruct the administration of justice (posting on social media, etc).

Judge is not pleased by Stone's "provocative" statements made in interviews and social media and does not believe anxiety caused him to forget he was publishing a book when questioned by her before trial about his media contacts, etc.

She pointedly said Stone had engaged in provocative statements for decades.

Judge goes hard core on Stone, saying his behavior in posting items about the prosecution/judge/court on social media was willful and disruptive.

She says his conduct put court personnel and prosecutors and her at safety risk

Jackson: "He didn’t just fire off a few intemperate emails. He used the tools of of social media to achieve the broadest dissemination possible" of missives that could disrupt justice and put people in danger.

Strong words: He knew exactly what he was doing ... By choosing Instagram and Twitter for his platforms he multiplied his ability to stoke public opinion against the prosecution and the court.

Wow. Judge asks Crabb to explain why he is the on here and not the prosecutors who withdrew from the case

!!Crabb: trial team of prosecutors had approval from their office to file their original sentencing memo!! And it was approved by U.S. Attorney

Crabb says there was consultation between main DOJ and U.S. Attorney office before it was filed. But he cites Barr saying there was a miscommunication between offices.

crabb says the sentencing memo was filed in good faith and consistent to request to seek sentence in guidelines.

Crabb refuses to answer whether he wrote the new sentencing memo or was directed to. He says it was a "righteous prosecution." Stone deserves a substantial prison term.

Jackson is making Crabb dance a lot. Man, she is not pleased by what happened last week.

Stone's lawyer argues client is a "real human being." He doesn't deserve a stiff term. In fact, Ginsberg argued in court papers Stone should be sentenced to probation. He is really into issues of veterans and animals and volunteers his time to those causes

Ginsberg: Stone also helped NFL players battling with traumatic brain injuries. He is also a spiritual person and tried to bridge racial divides in the nation.

He is a family man and has suffered enough, Ginsberg says.

!! Stone tells judge he will not address the court!!

WE ARE BACK: Judge warns us: She has a lot to say. Stone standing at lectern in front of her.

Judge, after reading a strange letter from a citizen in support of stone, says the case against Stone did not "arise because Mr. Stone was being pursued by political enemies."

Now she is going through the record of Stone's efforts to inject himself into the election/wikileaks, etc.

Could take awhile. Extensive record here.

Judge on Stone lies to Congress: This is not mere equivocation. It was not hte product of confusion. These answers were plainly false."
She also notes he had extensive convos he lied about to witnesses. Some were quite "lively" and "profane."

She says Stone "flat out lied" about his contacts with Corsi and Credico. There were hundreds of emails to and from Credico alone, she notes.

Judge is speaking very very fast. She is STILL going through extensive record that led to Stone's conviction on ALL counts before a jury.

Judge: Stone "lied and sought to impede production of information not to some secret anti-Trump cabal but to Congress," when both houses were controlled by REPUBLICANS.

BREAKING --> Roger Stone, political operative and longtime confidant of President Trump, is sentenced to 40 months in prison by a federal judge who was particularly harsh about his lies to Congress, witness tampering, obstruction.

That came on Count 1. He got concurrent sentences of 18 months on counts 2-6 and count 7.

That works out to 3 years and four months in prison. He also sentenced to two years of supervised release upon leaving prison.

Stone will not be going to prison today. The judge deferred the start of his sentence until she rules on defense efforts to toss trial. If their objections have to do with jurors, it likely won't fly. She spoke highly of jurors service.