Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison for lying to Congress

"He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president. He was prosecuted for covering up for the president," U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said before she handed down her sentence. [View in browser]( [Image]( FEBRUARY 20, 2020 [Image]( Zach Gibson/Getty Images Longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone was [sentenced to 40 months]( in federal prison Thursday for obstructing a congressional investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election. "He was not prosecuted, as some have complained, for standing up for the president. He was prosecuted for covering up for the president," U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said before she handed down her sentence. "There was nothing unfair, phony or disgraceful about the investigation or the prosecution," she added. "At his core, Mr. Stone is an insecure person who craves and recklessly pursues attention." Stone showed no emotion while the sentence was read, almost appearing bored. He stared with his hands in his pockets and continually rocked on his heels, but he smiled outside the Washington courthouse as he left. Stone will not have to report to prison until the judge acts on a defense motion for a new trial based on a claim of juror bias. President Donald Trump said Stone has "a [very good chance of exoneration](," just hours after the GOP operative was sentenced. "I'm following this very closely, and I want to see it play out to its fullest, because Roger has a very good chance of exoneration, in my opinion.," Trump said, adding that he believed the jury forewoman in Stone's trial was biased against him, making the trial unfair. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: VIDEOS [Image]( [Steve Schmidt says Trump not wanting Congress briefed on Russia interference 'an abuse of power']( The New York Times reports that Trump didn’t want Congress briefed on Russia supporting his re-election. Steve Schmidt says, "What this is is an attack on the USA by a hostile foreign power, an attack on our elections ... is tantamount to an act of war and to see the president complicit with it, is as grave as abuse of power coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave." [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Image]( [Trump is mad Dems know Russia is meddling to get him re-elected]( Trump is reportedly angry that Congress was briefed on Russia's new efforts to meddle in the 2020 election to help Trump get re-elected, worried Democrats will use it against him. The New York Times was first to report this news later confirmed by NBC News. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( MORE VIDEOS Circular firing squad among the Democrats at Las Vegas debate ([Deadline White House]() 'Totally wrong': Judge who ruled on 'stop-and-frisk' sets record straight on Bloomberg, Biden claims at debate ([The Beat With Ari Melber]() Richard Grenell not expected to serve as DNI for long ([Hardball]() Former congressman dangled Trump pardon to Assange ([All In]() ‘He's an internet troll:’ Rep. Cicilline on Trump’s new acting intel chief ([All In]() Elizabeth Warren on her private conversation with Mike Bloomberg during the debate ([The Last Word]() Elizabeth Warren on reports that Russia is interfering to help Trump in 2020 election ([The Last Word]() Frank Figliuzzi: If Trump does nothing, he's aiding and abetting Russia ([The 11th Hour]() MORE NEWS STORIES - [Trump associate Roger Stone sentenced to 3 years, 4 months in prison for lying to Congress]( - [As of today, how many jobs does Richard Grenell have?]( - [Acting intelligence head Richard Grenell's push to decriminalize homosexuality has yielded little]( - [Bolton says his impeachment testimony would not have changed outcome]( - [Bloomberg spends about $7 million per day on his campaign, latest filing shows]( - [Likely military data breach may have compromised service members' personal information]( QUOTE OF THE DAY "There is no precedent. No president acts this way. Even Nixon didn't act this way. It is so profoundly a betrayal of everything the Justice Department stands for, and my heart goes out to everyone working there now." - Neal Katyal ([video]() CONTINUING COVERAGE Saturday, join MSNBC for special coverage of the Nevada Caucus. Brian Williams and Joy Reid will report live from Las Vegas, while Nicolle Wallace and our panel of political experts break down the incoming results live in-studio with Steve Kornacki at the big board. Watch our special live coverage of the Nevada Caucus, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET. [Image] Tell us what you think of the news. [Drop us an e-mail.](mailto:msnbc.digital.editors@nbcuni.com?subject=MSNBC Daily) This newsletter was prepared for you by Stephanie Siek and Stephanie Haberman. Check out ["The Day That Was,"]( our primetime video recap. Were you forwarded this email from a friend? [Subscribe to the MSNBC Daily here](. 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