Leading Democrats have condemned US President Donald Trump’s decision to commute the prison sentence of his former adviser and friend Roger Stone.
Presidential contender Joe Biden’s spokesman accused Mr Trump of abuse of power and “laying waste” to US values.
The move – sparing Stone from jail but not a pardon – came just after a court denied Stone’s request to delay the start date of his 40-month prison term.
He was convicted of lying to Congress, obstruction and witness tampering.
Stone was the sixth Trump aide found guilty on charges linked to a justice department probe that alleged Russia tried to boost the Trump 2016 campaign.
The 67-year-old had been due to report to a federal prison in Jesup, Georgia, next Tuesday.
The White House said Stone was the victim of an attempt by opponents to undermine the presidency.
The president has been accused by political critics of undermining the justice system by criticising criminal cases against Stone and other former aides.
Mr Trump has also publicly complained about the prosecutions of onetime campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Mr Biden’s spokesman Bill Russo said Mr Trump could not be shamed and could only be stopped at the ballot box.
“President Trump has once again abused his power, releasing this commutation on a Friday night, hoping to yet again avoid scrutiny as he lays waste to the norms and the values that make our country a shining beacon to the rest of the world,” he said.
House of Representatives Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff condemned Mr Trump’s clemency.
READ ALSO: Trump frees Roger Stone from prison
“With this commutation,” said the top Democratic lawmaker, “Trump makes clear that there are two systems of justice in America: one for his criminal friends, and one for everyone else.”
Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren said it showed Donald Trump was the most corrupt president in history.
But the president’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, welcomed the news, saying Roger Stone’s sentence was draconian.
Mr Stone himself told reporters that under the terms of the commutation he could now appeal against his sentence, and was confident that he could expose “an enormous amount of corruption” at his trial.
BBC
