Top Stone prosecutor withdraws from case, resigns from Justice Department after sentencing retreat

by Kerry Eleveld

Community

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020 at 12:34:05pm PST

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 01: Roger Stone, a former adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, leaves the Prettyman United States Courthouse after a hearing February 1, 2019 in Washington, DC. A self-described political dirty-trickster, Stone is facing charges from Special Counsel Robert Mueller that he lied to Congress and engaged in witness tampering. He claims he has been falsely accused and has plead not guilty. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The chief prosecutor in the trial of longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone withdrew from the case Tuesday following news that the Justice Department planned to revise the sentencing recommendations for Stone down from the 7-9 years that had originally been recommended.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Zelinsky argued in court last fall that Stone had “lied to the House Intelligence Committee because the truth looked bad for the Trump campaign and the truth looked bad for Donald Trump.” On Monday, Zelinsky and his fellow prosecutors, Jonathan Kravis, Michael J. Marando, and Adam C. Jed, advised the court that a sentence of 87 to 108 months, “consistent with the applicable advisory Guidelines would accurately reflect the seriousness of his crimes and promote respect for the law.”

Tuesday morning, however, a Justice Department spokesperson said that sentencing recommendation was too “extreme” and would be revised it downward mere hours after Donald Trump threatened to pardon Stone altogether.

This story is still developing. Former federal prosecutors are reportedly aghast at the department’s reversal on Stone’s sentencing. A copy of Zelensky’s notice of withdrawal from the case is below.

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 · 9:05:54 PM +00:00 · Kerry Eleveld

UPDATE: Another prosecutor on the Stone case resigns. Jonathan Kravis "has resigned as an Assistant United States Attorney and therefore no longer represents the government in this case."

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 · 9:47:58 PM +00:00 · Kerry Eleveld

UPDATE: A third prosecutor, Aaron C. Jed, has now withdrawn from the Stone case.

Tuesday, Feb 11, 2020 · 10:41:01 PM +00:00 · Kerry Eleveld

UPDATE: The fourth is out! Add Michael Marando to the list.

Wow, Mueller prosecutor Zelinsky withdraws from the Stone case AND includes this footnote(!):

"The Court is advised that the undersigned attorney has resigned effective immediately after this filing as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for District of Columbia" pic.twitter.com/TrNSo9qXeB
— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) February 11, 2020