BREAKING: Top STONE prosecutor moves to withdraw from the case.

[Dennis Donovan]

Last edited Tue Feb 11, 2020, 06:06 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

Kyle Cheney ✔@kyledcheney

BREAKING: Top STONE prosecutor moves to withdraw from the case. Zelinsky was a top Mueller deputy.



3:00 PM - Feb 11, 2020

WHOA!! Betcha this won't be the first!!

On edit: Kyle Cheney deleted his tweet about the resignation from DoJ - he's only leaving the DC office

Link to tweet

Joyce Vance is saying he's out at DoJ, as well:

Link to tweet

Letter to court:

[lame54]

1. What's the significance?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

2. He doesn't appreciate Trump and Barr meddling in his work.

And would rather resign the case than be a part of it.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. He also resigned from DoJ effective immediately!

[MFGsunny]

21. No. See updated/clarifying info posted above .....

Zelinsky's resignation was only from his position as special assistant U.S. attorney in the District of Columbia but he still retains his post in the U.S. attorney's office in Maryland.

[PRETZEL]

22. He won't be in Maryland long nt

[Jarqui]

3. I suspect something smelly going on with the DOJ

putting Trump thumb on reducing the sentencing
and he wants no part of it

[Dennis Donovan]

4. If he's withdrawing as a US prosecutor in the Stone case, it means he's pissed off

...big time about the DoJ reducing the sentencing guidelines earlier today

[lame54]

6. Isn't his role over anyway?

[Tommy_Carcetti]

8. I'm assuming they would still make oral argument at the sentencing hearing.

So, no.

[lame54]

11. So, now, that will be done by a Barr flunky...

Seems like a wasted opportunity

[Tommy_Carcetti]

12. Yup. nt

[Dennis Donovan]

10. No, Stone hasn't been sentenced yet, plus he resigned from the DoJ in general as well

This is huge because of how DoJ undercut its prosecutors in the Stone case earlier. There is an earthquake about to hit DoJ.

[Zolorp]

13. His role would have ended after sentencing

He drew up the 7-9 years recommendation.

[Shrike47]

5. Couldn't stomach they were making him do.

[HAB911]

9. the fix is in

[Takket]

14. I understand why he is upset but...

Making things “easy” on drumpf by simply walking away is not helping things. Drumpf has to take no action. So many good people just keep resigning letting drumpf backfill with more corrupt loyalists.

We need to be hearing from these people and frankly they should be forcing drumpf to fire them

[Zolorp]

16. That sent a message to the judge

She could now decide that he deserves the maximum because the president is trying to affect the sentencing.

[Dennis Donovan]

18. I have a feeling he won't be the only one

What DoJ did by undercutting their own prosecutors in their "reassessment" of the Stone sentencing guidelines sent *deep* shockwaves thru the entire DoJ. Legal types on Twitter are saying to expect more. Barr might've finally crossed the line with this.

[GeorgeGist]

19. Pretty effective strategy if Barr is ...

cleaning house. Easy, peasy.

[2naSalit]

26. And they need to be hearing from us!!

[Vinca]

15. I was just reading the chapter in "A Very Stable Genius" about the Mueller report and how upset

Zelinsky was with Barr's regurgitation of "facts" with the first release to the public after the Mueller report was delivered. Sounds like he's finally had it. The good news is, the judge decides the sentencing. They can sentence more or less. They can take the recommendation to heart or totally ignore it.

[IADEMO2004]

17. New Hampshire Primary is the new Friday night news dump massacre?

Can you buy a license to kill at the white house yet?

Every agency of government is being corrupted and dismantled

[Dennis Donovan]

20. 2nd Stone prosecutor resigns

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212978722

[Nevilledog]

23. I want to know if they're withdrawing voluntarily or if they're being forced out.

[superpatriotman]

24. It's unknown if he was forced to resign or left on his own decision.

per RS

[Nevilledog]

25. If voluntary, it's a protest. Forced to resign is just more retaliation.

[Efilroft Sul]

27. I think Aaron Zelinsky was caught between a rock and a hard place.

If he went along with DOJ's new, recommended sentencing, he'd go against everything he argued for to put Stone away, thereby admitting to some weakness in his prosecution. If he maintained his original sentencing recommendation, he'd be fired ASAP and removed from all districts.