Mitt Romney slams Trump for ‘unprecedented, historic corruption’ in commuting Roger Stone’s sentence

Sen. Mitt Romney blasted President Trump Saturday for “unprecedented, historic corruption” in commuting Roger Stone’s prison sentence.

Even as most other Republicans held their tongues, the Utah senator slammed Trump for trying to save his own skin by protecting Stone from punishment.

“Unprecedented, historic corruption: an American president commutes the sentence of a person convicted by a jury of lying to shield that very president,” Romney tweeted.

Stone was convicted last year of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction of an official proceeding.

He lashed out at Romney on Saturday, and claimed that he was prosecuted for refusing to turn on Trump.

“Mitt Romney, you are as phony as your hair color,” Stone said in a video posted on Twitter.

Romney joined a chorus of critics outraged at the commutation, which Trump issued Friday night.

A commutation reduces or completely removes a sentence but does not absolve a guilty person of their crime.

The former GOP presidential nominee has long been a thorn in Trump’s side and was the only Republican lawmaker to vote in favor of his removal in the impeachment trial.

But most Republican lawmakers pointedly kept quiet about the commutation, which prevents Stone from having to report to prison next week for a three-year sentence.

Sen. Pat Toomey, who occasionally criticizes Trump, said it was a “mistake” for the president to commute Stone’s sentence.

Trump acolytes like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) supported the decision, noting that Stone had not previously been convicted of any major crimes and is a non-violent offender.

Since taking office, Trump has commuted sentences for 11 people including Stone.

By the end of his second term, President Obama had granted 1,715 commutations.