President Donald Trump’s acquittal of high crimes and abuse of power in his impeachment trial was all it took for the unchastened president to unleash his vengeance on everyone he perceived as being against him. And to Trump – yes, it was personal.
Last week, Trump fired a number of officials, including White House Ukraine specialist Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, who was subpoenaed to testify in the impeachment inquiry, then, he turned around and on Tuesday, said he would “certainly” expect the military to discipline Vindman.
But his latest power-move is all but unconscionable. Roger Stone, a close Trump ally was convicted of seven felonies, including obstruction of justice, lying to Congress and witness tampering last year and recommended by federal prosecutors for a prison sentence of seven to nine years.
This was perfect fodder for Trump’s power ride and when the news came out on Monday that the Justice Department had made a decision to water down a recommendation by its own prosecutors in the Roger Stone case – it sent shockwaves through Washington and beyond.
Trump added to the confusion and outrage. Just before 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning Trump registered his disapproval in a tweet, claiming without evidence: “The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them. Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!”
Later that same day, a court filing by the Department of Justice cut the recommended 7 to 9 years sentence. “While it remains the position of the United States that a sentence of incarceration is warranted here, the government respectfully submits that the range of 87 to 108 months presented as the applicable advisory Guidelines range would not be appropriate or serve the interests of justice in this case,” the filing said.
Trump carried on his assault of the country’s core institutions by tweeting a “congratulations” to Attorney General Willian Barr on Wednesday, for “taking charge of a case that was totally out of control and perhaps should not have even been brought.”
In the wake of the DOJ’s move to intervene in the Roger Stone case, all four prosecutors – Aaron Zelinsky, Jonathan Kravis, Adam Jed, and Michael Marando – have quit the case. Now, Democrats are calling for an independent investigation into what they describe as a “dangerously politicized and corrupt justice department.”
Trump was not done with the Stone case, though. Tuesday night, Trump took to Twitter and attacked the prosecutors and U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who presided over Stone’s trial and is to sentence him on Feb. 20.
And today, Trump has shifted his focus back to the Senate and its GOP majority, which is to vote on the Iran War Powers resolution. Calling the resolution nothing more than an effort by Democrats “to embarrass the Republican Party,” Trump tweeted:
“It is very important for our Country’s SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution. We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness. Americans overwhelmingly support our attack on terrorist Soleimani. If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal.”
Keep in mind though, The judge in the Stone case can make a decision independent of the DOJ’s guidelines. We will have to wait and see if the judge is scared of Trump and what his new-found power can do.
Just how far will this president go in his revenge against his perceived “enemies” is a question on a lot of people’s minds. The man has turned into a loose cannon and has become a danger to this country. No wonder Congressional Republicans are afraid of his wrath.
