House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described President Trump’s commutation of Roger Stone’s 40 month prison sentence for seven convictions as “an act of staggering corruption”, according to statement released by her office.
“President Trump’s decision to commute the sentence of top campaign advisor Roger Stone, who could directly implicate him in criminal misconduct, is an act of staggering corruption,” Pelosi stated.
Friday night, Trump announced that he had commuted the sentence of Stone, a republican operative and long-time friend of Trump’s who had been convicted of crimes involving lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and intimidating witnesses.
Late last night, the White House released a statement trying to justify the action, citing everything from a Deep State plot, to a witch hunt, to a biased juror foreperson, to the health of Stone.
Pelosi vowed to undertake legislation to prevent the corrupt use of clemency granted to the President by the Constitution, although it is unclear what legal restrictions would be found constitutional by the courts.
“Congress will take action to prevent this type of brazen wrongdoing. Legislation is needed to ensure that no President can pardon or commute the sentence of an individual who is engaged in a cover-up campaign to shield that President from criminal prosecution,” the statement read.