This archive report was first published on 12 July 2020.
With less than four months until the 2020 US presidential election, President Trump's re-election prospects are looking increasingly dire. According to recent polls, he may be facing a landslide defeat at the hands of Joe Biden.
So, why did President Trump finally act to commute Roger Stone's prison sentence? While Mr. Stone's impending date with prison on Tuesday was certainly a prompt, Mr. Trump's own re-election prospects likely played a significant role.
As we reported in November, Mr. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress about his efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election. At the time, Mr. Trump was facing a close race with Joe Biden among likely voters in battleground states.
Today, the stakes are far higher for Mr. Trump. If he is defeated, he will suffer global humiliation, a fate that would be a far cry from his surprise victory in 2016.
President Trump has reportedly lashed out at his re-election team for his floundering campaign. As he seeks to right the ship, Mr. Trump would surely want to turn to Mr. Stone, whose political acumen he has trusted for nearly 40 years.
Mr. Stone has a history of rescuing Trump's campaigns from disaster. In 2016, he helped orchestrate an indelible moment during the second debate between Mr. Trump and Hillary Clinton, when several women who had accused President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct sat in the front row.
But can Mr. Stone return the favor this time around? His arsenal of dirty tricks may not be as effective in the age of social media, where his adversaries are now on to him.
