Roger Stone Sentenced: 3 Years, 4 Months

Roger Stone, close friend and advisor to President Trump, sentenced to federal prison for obstructing a congressional investigation of Russia's 2016 election meddling. NBC's Alice Barr reports.

(NBC News) Roger Stone, a close friend and advisor to President Trump, was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in federal prison for charges including lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction House and FBI investigations.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said Stone’s crimes demanded a significant time behind bars, but she also said the seven to nine years originally recommended by the Justice Department was excessive.

Stone must also pay a $20,000 fine and perform community service.

Stone was found guilty last November on seven counts of lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstructing House and FBI investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

His defense team is asking for a new trial, claiming the foreperson on his jury was biased against him.

President Trump, who just this week granted clemency to 11 people, hasn’t ruled out pardoning Stone.

“Roger has a very good chance of exoneration, in my opinion,” he said after the sentencing.

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