Prosecutors Quit Amid Uproar Over Trump Ally Stone’s Prison Time

U.S. slashes recommended punishment for lying to help Trump
Senator Schumer calls for DOJ inspector general investigation

Roger Stone outside court in Washington in 2019.
Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

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By Chris Strohm and Erik Larson

February 11, 2020 at 5:16 PM UTC

Updated on

February 12, 2020 at 3:55 AM UTC

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All four U.S. government prosecutors who backed a long prison stay for Trump ally Roger Stone resigned from the case, a stunning rebuke to the Justice Department after it cut his recommended sentence by more than half.

The prosecutors’ withdrawal from the team that won Stone’s conviction for lying to Congress, obstruction of justice and witness tampering capped a remarkable day in which the Justice Department shifted its stance hours after President Donald Trump tweeted criticism of the proposed punishment.