Trump to consider pardon for Roger Stone

'I think Roger Stone was very unfairly treated,' president said before day-long trip to swing state Florida

Donald Trump is reportedly mulling whether to commute Roger Stone's prison sentence, days before his former campaign aide and longtime political insider is set to report to jail following a host of charges related to Robert Mueller's investigation into foreign election interference.

On Friday, the president said he is "looking at" a possible pardon, the latest sign he is willing to use his powers as president to help former associates who have been convicted of federal crimes.

Stone was convicted of lying to Congress and federal officials about his contacts with Russians during the 2016 US election cycle. The president again on Friday said his former adviser was treated unfairly.

"Well, I'll be looking at it," he said over Marine One's loud engine hum as he departed for several official events and fundraisers in Florida. "I think Roger Stone was very unfairly treated, as were many people. And, in the meantime [former FBI Director James] Comey and all these guys are walking around, including Joe [Biden] and [Barack] Obama."

"We caught them spying on my campaign," he added before heading for the executive helicopter, referring to the former vice president and president – and reprising his unproven "Obamagate" conspiracy theory that the Obama administration illegally spied on his 2016 presidential campaign.

Stone, who worked directly for the Trump campaign in 2015 and then as an unofficial adviser, was convicted in November for lying to Congress, obstructing an official proceeding and witness tampering.

He was facing seven charges and was found guilty on each one. Those were rooted in actions he took surrounding former Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III's Russia election meddling probe.

While working for and then advising Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Stone began trying to communicate with WikiLeaks about emails the organisation had obtained from a hacker who broke into Democratic servers.

"This is a horrible and very unfair situation. The real crimes were on the other side, as nothing happens to them," Trump tweeted in February, referring to the Justice Department preparing to recommend a nine-year sentence for Stone. "Cannot allow this miscarriage of justice!"

Mr Trump spoke to Attorney General William Barr about the department's intention to seek a nine-year sentence. Mr Barr then signalled DOJ would indeed seek fewer years behind bars for Mr Trump's longtime friend; he ultimately was sentenced to 40 months in prison by a federal judge.