Feds: Delay in Roger Stone sentence is following coronavirus-era policy

Stone cited the health risks he would face behind bars in his request to delay an upcoming prison sentence

06/26/2020 12:55 AM EDT

The Justice Department won't oppose a bid by Roger Stone, the longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, to delay an upcoming prison sentence until September, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday night, citing department-wide policies implemented in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is currently the U.S. Department of Justice’s policy … to not oppose a defendant’s request to extend a voluntary surrender date for up to 60 days, unless the defendant poses an immediate public safety or flight risk," the U.S. attorney's office for Washington D.C., said in a late-night filing. "For that reason—and that reason only—the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia does not oppose defendant Roger J. Stone’s request to extend his voluntary surrender date for up to 60 days"

In his request, the 67-year-old Stone cited the health risks he would face behind bars, where coronavirus risks have been particularly acute. And in a series of Instagram posts, Stone ratcheted up his rhetoric, claiming he would be facing "certain" death if his prison sentence continues as scheduled.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/26/feds-delay-in-roger-stone-sentence-is-following-coronavirus-era-policy-340956