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Jack Abramoff Gets Reduced Sentence

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 04:34:10 PM EST
Tags: Jack Abramoff (all tags)
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Disgraced Republican Jack Abramoff was sentenced today in his second case to four years in prison, to be served concurrently with the six year sentence he is already serving.

Judge Ellen Huvelle issued the sentence after federal prosecutors recommended leniency due to Abramoff's cooperation in pursuing corruption cases against lawmakers and former administration officials. He faced a maximum of 11 years under a plea deal reached in 2006.

Abramoff sang for his supper and got rewarded big time. Great job by defense attorneys Abbie Lowell and Neal Sonnett.

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    Jack Abramoff Gets Reduced Sentence | 8 comments (8 topical)

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    Sometimes, Jeralyn, you hold your nose ... (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 05:53:05 PM EST
    ... and deal with the devil. White collar crime is hard enough to prove as it is, and more often than not depends upon coerced testimony from tainted witnesses such as Jack Abramoff. Absent their assistance, presence on the stand and their testimony, and you might as well hand a "Get Out of Jail Free" card to those corrupt public officials guilty of misusing their offices and positions for personal gain.

    As long as there's full and unfettered disclosure to both the presiding judge and trial jury of whatever the prosecution's deals with coerced witnesses happen to be, I will trust that judge or jury to take such pacts into consideration when weighing the veracity of whatever testimony is offered.

    And speaking as a former clerk for the House Judiciary Committee in the Hawaii legislature, I would be more than happy to support a statute that provides for a dismissal of all charges with prejudice against a defendant, should ever a prosecutor knowingly and intentionally fail to disclose to the defense any potentially exculpatory evidence, information and relationships.

    It's the inherent duty of public prosecutors to seek out the truth on behalf of the citizenry, not to win at all costs. Egregious and deceptive prosecutory behavior can rob a trial jury or judge of the opportunity to make a fully informed decision in the matter pending before them, and is an affront to our system of justice.

    How much you wanna bet (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by stefystef on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 08:10:53 PM EST
    that Bush give Abramoff a pardon at the end of the year.  You think people complained about Clinton's pardons, what to you see Bush's list.

    It will be criminal.

    good thing for him, (none / 0) (#1)
    by cpinva on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 04:49:59 PM EST
    that he could afford very competent counsel.

    Hence (none / 0) (#2)
    by txpolitico67 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 05:09:11 PM EST
    the sold sign?  /s

    [ Parent ]
    Doh! (none / 0) (#3)
    by mmc9431 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 05:29:54 PM EST
    Who did he sing about?

    My question as well (none / 0) (#6)
    by cal1942 on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 06:51:19 PM EST
    who did he finger?

    Haven't noticed any big fish flopping around on the dock.

    [ Parent ]

    was thinking the same thing.n/t (none / 0) (#8)
    by hairspray on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 09:15:00 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    The depth of corruption (none / 0) (#4)
    by shoephone on Thu Sep 04, 2008 at 05:46:57 PM EST
    Abramoff represents everything that is corrupt about politics in general, and about the Republican party in particular. I had hoped that his cohorts -- the ones successfully prosecuted by ousted US atty Carol Lamb -- would be made to pay for their crimes but it looks as if some of them are getting off as well.

    Is it any wonder the citizens are cynical about government?

    Jack Abramoff Gets Reduced Sentence | 8 comments (8 topical)

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