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Jack Abramoff Released to Half-Way House

By Jeralyn, Section Corruption Cases
Posted on Wed Jun 09, 2010 at 11:56:46 PM EST
Tags: Jack Abramoff (all tags)
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Jack Abramoff has been released from prison to finish serving his 70 month sentence in a half-way house.

He started his sentence in November, 2006. He's served 3 years and 7 months. He'll be discharged from the halfway house December 4.

On the day he was sentenced, I wrote:

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.

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    Jack Abramoff Released to Half-Way House | 29 comments (29 topical)

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    Wow (none / 0) (#1)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:26:18 AM EST
    I can't help but compare the sentence Madoff got compared to Abramoff.

    Makes Madoff's sentence look even more crazy, imo.

    Madoff got a feel-good sentence (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 01:14:04 AM EST
    150 years was absurd. It was meant to make his victims feel better, since it won't  return  a single dollar to any victim.

    Parent
    And, if one reads the NY Magazine article (none / 0) (#6)
    by scribe on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:00:25 AM EST
    it's clear Madoff doesn't give a sh*t, never did and never will.

    Parent
    And If One Reads The TL Post (none / 0) (#18)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:33:54 AM EST
    At his age, a ten year sentence is practically a life sentence, it would be long enough to for him to have plenty of time to reflect on why he was there and miss the things he cares about, yet it would have also provided him a ray of light at the end of the tunnel. If he had been shown the slightest compassion, perhaps he'd be able to feel remorse. Instead, all he can feel is bitterness.

    You might be able to consider a different POV.

    Parent

    A 10 year sentence (none / 0) (#21)
    by jbindc on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:08:26 PM EST
    Would only be a little over 8 hours in prison for each of the people he screwed over.  

    Parent
    People, many of whom (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:20:40 PM EST
    didn't care where the money was rolling in from, as long as the market was still going great guns..

    And that horrible, immoral man would probably still be everyone's favorite sugar daddy today if the market hadn't tanked.

    Parent

    Good Point (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:36:35 PM EST
    I think that it is really hard for most, to put principal above comfort (and profit). We can discuss this more in open thread, but I think that the oil spill biz is related to that weakness that most of us seem to have. Blame everyone else, but no one here is thinking of stopping buying the stuff. In fact we want cheaper gas and oil.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:16:35 PM EST
    It is all math, for some. I imagine that you would have a computer replace judges, juries, and sentencing and replace all of the lost personnel with more prosecutors.

    Parent
    jbinc (none / 0) (#23)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:17:07 PM EST
    Please see the last Joran Van der Sloot thread. You have been limited to four comments a day on my threads.

    Parent
    also (none / 0) (#24)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:18:11 PM EST
    if you have a problem with this, send me an email, don't discuss it in comments. This thread is not about you, but Jack Abramoff.

    Parent
    I read both the TL post and that article (none / 0) (#26)
    by scribe on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:22:45 PM EST
    I don't disagree with TL when she said what you quoted. In fact, I agree with her.  

    But the point I was trying to make was that it is my belief - based upon what I've read - that Bernie Madoff never did care about his victims and that he would not have benefitted from the opportunity of that glimmer at the end of the tunnel.  Rather, I believe he was and remains driven by ego gratification.  

    He got it on the outside by presenting the facade of the uber-successful investor while knowing it was all a scam and getting over on all the better-educated, better-bred, from-wealthier-roots people he scammed.  At heart, that's an attitude of contempt for his fellow-man.  He gave it out for years and he's getting it back now.  He gets that ego gratification on the inside by being the object of fame and respect among his fellow skels.  Again, that's his contempt - for the system, for law, for propriety. He's the con's con.

    That's what he runs on.  He likes being worshipped.  Repentance, the glimmer of hope and all that would run contrary to what runs his personality.  

    Maybe he is one of those guys who cries under his blanket at night, like the article describes.  But I doubt it.  

    Parent

    I dont buy that he was (none / 0) (#27)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:31:09 PM EST
    and is, quite the aberration in that world he operated in that you seem to be making him out to be, Scribe.

     

    Parent

    Lets not forget that (none / 0) (#29)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 12:42:22 PM EST
    the guy was surrounded by many, many enablers, who were quite ready, willing and able to feed into that beyond-the-reach (of the law and reality), fantasy world of Bernie's at every turn.

    One of the notorious Renaissance Popes spoke centuries ago about the danger for all concerned when powerful people are surrounded by people who are afraid to ever say the word "no".

    Parent

    Or from another pov (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by nyjets on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 07:19:43 AM EST
    Abramoff sentence was to light.

    Parent
    More draconian sentence (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:32:23 AM EST
    more chance he'd rat people out, (or should I say rat rats out?)

    As if Miss Rove, Ralph Reed & Co, just for starters, had no clue what Abramoff had been up to all that time..

    Parent

    How much jail time did Tom DeLay get? (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by ruffian on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:04:36 AM EST
    Oh yeah...never mind.

    Parent
    You really should (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:43:38 AM EST
    do some research. Abramoff passed money to all.

    Here are some facts.

    Parent

    I was going to say (none / 0) (#12)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:48:27 AM EST
    maybe he was just a little too much of an equal opportunity, bi-partisan shyster..

    From his personal history, there for anyone to read, we know where his HEART was though..

    Over there in that sty with the rest of the former college Republicans..

    Parent

    You've only got 67% (none / 0) (#13)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:54:14 AM EST
    of the sleaze..

    That still leaves a healthy 33% to guard our borders, save the sanctity of marriage, roll back terror and privatize the Public Library..

    Parent

    You still don't get it... (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:01:52 AM EST
    Look at the list.

    Patty Murray has about 4 large Indian casinos in WA. J.D. Hayworth had about 4 Indian casinos ion AZ. Kennedy? There was a big push to get them R.I.
    Reid? They wanted him to just be quiet. (Nevada doesn't like Indian Casinos.)

    etc., etc.

    Money has no conscience or political affiliations.

    Pols do what pols do.

    Parent

    College Republicans (none / 0) (#16)
    by jondee on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:24:55 AM EST
    with a key to Miss Rove's boudoir do what college Republicans with a key to Miss Rove's boudoir do..

    Yeah, I get it.

    Parent

    There's a difference (none / 0) (#9)
    by Socraticsilence on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:26:20 AM EST
    from a cynical point of view Black Jack could have threatened to talk about what he knew, from a non-cynical perspective Madoff stole 100s if times more money- admittedly at a certain point it becomes semantic but you'll get a different sentence for stealing a BMW than for shoplifting a pack of gum.

    Parent
    My prediction: (none / 0) (#3)
    by lentinel on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 03:49:13 AM EST
    Abramoff will get his own television show on Fox.
    He will either be a commentator like Oliver North, or a financial advisor like Jim Cramer.

    How much time did the Congresscritters (none / 0) (#5)
    by ruffian on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 08:58:17 AM EST
    he bribed do? I'd say Abramoff has done his time, given that he could not do what he did without co-conspirators in government.

    Totally different situation than Madoff.

    What's really amazing and ironic (none / 0) (#7)
    by scribe on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:01:53 AM EST
    are the number of cases made against all sorts of people through the massive cooperation Abramoff gave.

    In a word, I recall "none", despite his spilling his guts.  

    Under AG Alberto Gonzales and his US Attorneys (none / 0) (#8)
    by ruffian on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 10:07:04 AM EST
    Not a big surprise.

    Parent
    Buried (none / 0) (#17)
    by mmc9431 on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:27:44 AM EST
    I thought his sentence was reduced because he was cooperating in the investigation? Didn't the Justice Department change prosecutors in the midst of the investigation? And where did the investigation lead? It seems like it fell off the face of the universe.

    Some links (none / 0) (#19)
    by ruffian on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:54:11 AM EST
    David Safavian may eventually serve one year.

    Rep. Don Young's aide pleaded guilty, Young is still in congress.

    Rep Bob Ney pleaded guilty to charges (he was close with Abramoff but I'm not sure if his plea deal related to Abramoff related charges) and got 30 months + probation. His aide pleaded guilty also.

    Quick scan shows mostly plea deals, maybe prodded by info Abramoff was giving prosecutors.

    Parent

    TPM archives are probably helpful too (none / 0) (#20)
    by ruffian on Thu Jun 10, 2010 at 11:56:07 AM EST
    I may look after work.

    Parent
    Jack Abramoff Released to Half-Way House | 29 comments (29 topical)

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