Trump news: President attacked over 'vile smear job' after claims of meddling in Roger Stone case

Trump denies interfering in Roger Stone sentencing

Donald Trump is receiving swift backlash for claiming without evidence that “rogue prosecutors” were possibly responsible for handing his longtime associate Roger Stone a lengthy prison sentence, as Bernie Sanders' celebrates victory in New Hampshire.

The president's comments were described as a "vile smear job" by a key witness as former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said in a tweet: "Justice must be blind." Mr Trump's incendiary tweets came shortly after prosecutors said Stone should be sentenced to seven-to-nine years for lying to Congress during an investigation into Russian interference in the 2020 election.

Meanwhile, results from New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary continued to be dissected throughout the day, as Mr Sanders' strong showing appeared to place him on a clearer path to securing the Democratic nomination than ever before. Pete Buttiegieg and Amy Klobuchar, who trailed the Vermont senator respectively, have also since thanked supporters for their solid performances on Tuesday night.

The attorneys then resigned from the case after the Justice Department overruled them and said it would take the extraordinary step of lowering the amount of prison time it would seek for Stone.

The departures on Tuesday raised immediate questions over whether Mr Trump, who earlier in the day had blasted the original sentencing recommendation as “very horrible and unfair,” had at least indirectly exerted his will on a Justice Department that he often views as an arm of the White House.

The department insisted the decision to undo the sentencing recommendation was made Monday night — before Mr Trump’s tweet — and prosecutors had not spoken to the White House about it.

Even so, the departures of the entire trial team broke open a simmering dispute over the punishment of a Trump ally whose case has long captured the Republican president’s attention.

The episode was the latest to entangle the Justice Department, meant to operate free from White House sway in criminal investigations and prosecutions, in presidential politics.

The four attorneys, including two who were early members of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia team, comprised the entire Justice Department trial team that won convictions against Stone last fall.

Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Key Points

• Bernie Sanders wins New Hampshire, pledges 'beginning of the end' for Trump
• President mocks key candidates and Michael Bloomberg who was not on ballot
• Trump appears to admit AG meddled in Roger Stone case after earlier denial
• President suggests Pentagon should review Alexander Vindman's conduct
• Pelosi, Schumer call new budget proposal 'blueprint for destroying America'

[12 February 2020 19:28 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump is greeting Ecuadoran President Lenín Moreno and Ms Rocio Gonzales De Moreno at the White House now. The Oval Office meeting will reportedly be closed to the press, but we'll provide real-time updates and analysis as they come in. Stay tuned.

[12 February 2020 19:40 · Chris Riotta]

The Independent’s Alex Woodward has more about the reports on Robert Hyde and how the president’s donor - who has been accused of “stalked” former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, handed over crucial evidence to Congress:

[12 February 2020 20:20 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump has said the lesson he learned from his historic impeachment trial was that "Democrats are crooked" -

[12 February 2020 20:40 · Chris Riotta]

The Trump administration has taken to the airwaves in their attempts to defend the president's latest budget, which features steep cuts for so-called "entitlement programmes" -

[12 February 2020 21:00 · Chris Riotta]

A bipartisan group of senators have proposed legislation to turn components of the global women’s initiative led in part by Ivanka Trump into law, while establishing an Office of Women's Empowerment at the State Department.

Female development in business and economics became a key focus for Donald Trump’s daughter after she was appointed a White House senior adviser.

The programme, dubbed the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, has reached an estimated 12 million women worldwide since its launch in February of last year, according to Ms Trump. 

Story to come...

[12 February 2020 21:29 · Chris Riotta]

This concludes today's live coverage of Donald Trump. Be sure to check back tomorrow as The Independent brings you the latest.