The former Special Prosecutor has an op-ed up in The Washington Post, written in response both to the commutation of Roger Stone’s prison sentence and the ongoing attacks on his investigation and the patriotism and integrity of those who conducted that investigation. It is relatively concise, and well worth reading.
Let me simply offer a few samples therefrom.
The opening paragraph:
The work of the special counsel’s office — its report, indictments, guilty pleas and convictions — should speak for itself. But I feel compelled to respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper, and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office. The Russia investigation was of paramount importance. Stone was prosecuted and convicted because he committed federal crimes. He remains a convicted felon, and rightly so
The beginning of the 2nd:
Russia’s actions were a threat to America’s democracy. It was critical that they be investigated and understood
A key, short paragraph:
The jury ultimately convicted Stone of obstruction of a congressional investigation, five counts of making false statements to Congress and tampering with a witness. Because his sentence has been commuted, he will not go to prison. But his conviction stands.
Why Stone’s convictions (that is, the multiple counts), are important:
When a subject lies to investigators, it strikes at the core of the government’s efforts to find the truth and hold wrongdoers accountable. It may ultimately impede those efforts.
That was the end of the penultimate paragraph.
Here is the final paragraph:
We made every decision in Stone’s case, as in all our cases, based solely on the facts and the law and in accordance with the rule of law. The women and men who conducted these investigations and prosecutions acted with the highest integrity. Claims to the contrary are false.
Now go read the entire piece. And pass it on.