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U.S. Attorney to Move for Jack Abramoff Sentencing Reduction

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 01:14:00 AM EST
Tags: Jack Abramoff (all tags)
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I'm not sure why this is news since it was all but assured in Jack Abramoff's plea agreement, but the U.S. Attorney in Florida has signaled he will be requesting a reduction in Jack Abramoff's 5 year 10 month sentence.

Abramoff's plea agreement is here. As I wrote at the time of his sentencing,

I don't think Abramoff will do more than three to four years. But, with a $21 million restitution order hanging over his head, he may never be a fat cat again.

....I ...think he will get a 50% reduction in the Washington case, and a further Rule 35 reduction in the Florida case so both come out to about or just under four years.

Abramoff has continued cooperating since his sentence and incarceration. He will get credit for everyone who he cooperated against who has since pleaded guilty or been found guilty. That's the way our system works. It's called moral bankruptcy.

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    U.S. Attorney to Move for Jack Abramoff Sentencing Reduction | 7 comments (7 topical)

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    So where are the other indictments? (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by LimaBN on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 04:24:50 AM EST
    If Abramoff has been so "cooperative," with whom has he been cooperating?  Karl Rove?

    Where are the other indictments?  Any further news about the upstream fish, like Rove, Cheney, and Junior?

    And how does this particular United States Attorney fit in with Main Justice's list of USA's to retain vs. those who got dismissed for being too active in pursuing corrupt Republicans?

    Professional Summary (none / 0) (#6)
    by ding7777 on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 06:39:09 AM EST
    R. Alexander Acosta was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate to serve as United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida on June 9, 2006.

    link

    Parent

    I guess Gonzales overlooked ... (none / 0) (#1)
    by Meteor Blades on Thu Mar 22, 2007 at 11:50:25 PM EST
    ...this attorney when the purge was underway?

    I fully understand your point of view here. But without some kind of carrot, how do prosecutors get cooperation. If I faced a 20-year sentence and someone told me to cooperate, I'd want something in return besides extra toilet paper in my cell. If it's 20 years whether you cooperate or not, why cooperate?

    Purchased Testimony (none / 0) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 12:22:45 AM EST
    The problem is we don't know if the cooperator's testimony is truthful.  If it doesn't mesh with  the Government's version of the truth, it's not credited with time off.

    Testimony of cooperating coconspirators is purchased testimony. It is bought and paid for with promises of leniency, a commodity that is far more precious than money. In my experience, it is inherently unreliable.

    There is something morally bankrupt about a system that convicts people and sends them to jail for decades based upon the testimony of these cooperating witnesses.

    Point taken. n/t (none / 0) (#5)
    by Meteor Blades on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 04:46:28 AM EST


    Parent
    One More Thing (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 12:29:21 AM EST
    We should not let PurgeGate over-glorify our perception of crime fighters.

    What's a better way? (none / 0) (#7)
    by Lora on Fri Mar 23, 2007 at 08:38:38 AM EST
    Abramoff has continued cooperating since his sentence and incarceration. He will get credit for everyone who he cooperated against who has since pleaded guilty or been found guilty. That's the way our system works. It's called moral bankruptcy.

    I agree with you on the moral bankruptcy.  What's a better way to nail the guilty?

    U.S. Attorney to Move for Jack Abramoff Sentencing Reduction | 7 comments (7 topical)

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