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Professor Abramoff?
Defense attorneys for the disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff last night filed 95 letters from friends and supporters in an effort to get the former GOP power-broker out of jail early. In the words of the Associated Press, the letters "describe him as a humbled, changed man whose family is suffering and nearly broke after his first 18 months in prison."
Apparently Abramoff has turned himself into something of a professor while in prison. His lawyers say that he has taught classes entitled "Parenting from a Distance," "Modern Marvels," "Cinema Studies," and "The Holocaust in Films," and is currently teaching a film theory class.
As we told you this morning, prosecutors have asked for leniency for Abramoff because he has already spent over 3000 hours helping them with their ongoing federal corruption probe, which implicates a number of other Washington players.
Josh
Zachary
3000 hours is a year and a half of full time work (2080 hours/year).
He must be a miracle man... helping the prosecutors and putting in overtime with teaching make believe to the other prisoners...
Sad, but it looks as though the prosecution is lying just as much as Abramoff... unless, of course, they trusted him to keep track of his own hours... in which case they are just plain inept...
August 28, 2008 4:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
He's using the HalliburtonKBR method of billing - cost plu$$$!
When he's released maybe he can become one of the millions of people "employed" by eBay?
August 28, 2008 6:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
If he's doing such good work in there, why should we let him out?
August 28, 2008 4:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
I cannot find a way to contact the judge(s) in this matter so that I can write a letter asking for a longer sentence.
Anyone know which court his case is being argued in front of?
August 28, 2008 5:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Judge Ellen Huvelle has been hearing most of Abramoff's related activity cases (Abramoff, Ney, Scanlon) etc.
http://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/huvelle-bio.html
August 28, 2008 5:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope the judge remembers "Greeks I Mistook For Palestinain", an "Making A Fortune In Trogladites".
August 28, 2008 5:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Here is a man who had 100 or 1000 times more than most of our fellow citizens. He did not commit his crimes to keep his family in his home. He did not commit his crime to keep food on his table. He did not commit these crimes because his business was failing and he wanted to save it. He committed these crimes simply because he was greedy.
How many poor, middle class or others commit a crime because they need money to survive, to help their young or are desperately seeking to save what had been their life after misfortune in the economy?
Do we give these people breaks? Not in King George's nation. He will see them sent to hell for their sins. Only the rich and well connected receive redemption under his system.
August 28, 2008 5:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Neat trick -- get out of jail by turning in people to a corrupt Bush Justice Department that won't bother to prosecute.
August 28, 2008 6:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Boo freakin' hoo.
August 28, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
...How about "Oh, no! We're outta Crisco!", "Don't Drop the Soap in the Shower" and "My Knees Are So Sore, I'll Just Take the Whuppin'"?
August 28, 2008 7:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jack deserves to spend one day in jail for every dolar that stole, swindled or scammed.
Abramoff NEEDS to serve another 3000 YEARS before he is let go to hang with his people.
August 28, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
People are in prison much longer for simple possession of crack. Let him rot, so what if he's helping, charge him individually for obstruction in every case he doesn't help.
August 28, 2008 8:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like we need to bring back Baretta:
'Don't do the Crime, if you can't do the Time.'
The word on K Street and Wall Street is that the punishment for white-collar crime is a tap on the wrist. I think it's high time that the Justice system sent a message to the people that this is *real* crime--by leaving Abramoff to rot, and sending his buddies to join him.
August 29, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like we need to bring back Baretta:
'Don't do the Crime, if you can't do the Time.'
The word on K Street and Wall Street is that the punishment for white-collar crime is a tap on the wrist. I think it's high time that the Justice system sent a message to the people that this is *real* crime--by leaving Abramoff to rot, and sending his buddies to join him.
August 29, 2008 12:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Throw away the key.
August 30, 2008 3:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Oh, come on!
Aww...poor guy, broke the law in a nasty, corrupting way and doesn't like being in jail?? Kind of reminds me of that picture of Karl Rove being arrested, and the look of terror on his face. These jerks are the same ones who would like nothing more than to put you in jail for twenty years for smoking marijuana or knocking over a convenience store; but when they get caught *corrupting the government* they're already whining after a year and a half.
I hear they're also trying to get Duke Cunningham out...
August 30, 2008 2:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking as the son of a Native American (Dad called himself an "Indian") I can only say "fuck you" to Jackie Abramoff.
The only punishment this guy is suffering is knowing that he's out of the game, there's money to be made and he's not making it now. I'm sure he's like a cat in the window, unable to get at the birds on the tree outside.
When (if?) he's pardoned by W that'll be the relief he seeks.
September 4, 2008 12:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Uh, lets see he swindled the Indians, check.
How much of that did he give back?
He swindled this Greek guy who turned up dead, out of a casino boat,with another crook, Adam Kidan - check. What happened to THAT trial?
Jack and Adam didn't have the money and tried to fake documents to buy the boat from the Greek guy and used his prominent connections with the congress and the president to defraud banks and agencies in order to buy the boat which they were going to take to the Marianas to have illegal gambling in international waters. Abramoff is a fraud, a crook and he is a good actor, writes a good screen play to lull the judge into leniency.
and the "good" he tried to do with the ill gotten gains ( I love that line)he sent to Isreal to buy arms for some military school. That runs deep in my veins as it says he, like the GOP want to use taxpayer money to fund their personal pet projects.
"
If there was a provision in his sentence to pay for his keep while in prison, it should be inlcuded. I'm tired of paying for these idiots 3 hots and cot at club fed.
I don't feel sorry for his lot. I feel for his family, but he was so reckless, he didn't stop to think about THAT until he went to prison.
Let Mr. Abe stay in jail and do not pass go. Yes he gave up some things for prosecution. So, give him more time with his family in prison, but away from society.
September 4, 2008 4:03 AM | Reply | Permalink