February 22, 2006

Newton Sentenced

Well, former Representative Chris Newton is going to jail over bribery charges stemming from Operation Tennessee Waltz. Good for the Feds.

Of course, he was sentenced for one year and a day, so he really won't be serving a year. The extra day at the end insures that he will have the opportunity to get out early for good behavior and all that. I'd say he'll actually spend about 7-9 months in prison total...and that will be in a Federal minimum security camp (I'm guessing Manchester, KY).

On the other hand, I think he should have gotten more...but that's just because of him being a Naifeh lackey and following orders to sink HR 0887 last year.

More: Oh yeah. I failed to mention that the esteemed Memphis former Senator John Ford's corruption trial has been postponed for at least eight months...just in time for his nephew's election campaign for the U.S. Senate. I'm sure that delights Junior's campaign team.

Comments:

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Obviously Rep. Newton and some others not yet convicted are guilty of taking bribes. Isn't it also a crime to offer bribes to legislators? If I gave money to one of my state legislators to vote in accordance with the State Constitution, then would be guilty of a crime, right?

That being so, why is it that federal government agents can commit crimes (by offering bribes) to catch others at crimes? Doesn't "equal protection of the laws" (14th Amendment) apply to all? Or are some persons "more equal than others"?

Posted by: Ron W at February 23, 2006 08:16 AM

Ron...you make a good point. With stings (especially Federal stings), I've often thought...would a crime have ever been committed if the government hadn't initiated it? It happens all the time with the BATF...which is a travesty.

Posted by: Blake at February 23, 2006 09:03 AM

Do you eliminate all stings--prostitution, underage alcohol,etc.?

Blake, although I rarely believe anything in the Tennessean, in this case I'll take their word in reporting that Newton can get 50-something days off for good behavior, although maybe he can get early release/house arrest for some portion.

Posted by: George Rand at February 23, 2006 09:15 AM

A person is not eligible for early release if he or she is sentenced for a year or under. With the extra day tacked to the end of the year sentence, he is then eligible for early release (that's not counting days off for good behavior). The judge did him a favor by tacking the extra day on there.

Posted by: Blake at February 23, 2006 09:20 AM

George Rand,

Stings are OK IF government agents do not commit crimes in the process.

Posted by: at February 23, 2006 10:29 AM

then underage alcohol and prostituion stings are out.

Posted by: George Rand at February 23, 2006 11:43 AM

I'd rather have it harder to nab the common criminals rather than government agents (especially the federal ones) being able to break the law and becoming the "legalized" version.

Posted by: at February 23, 2006 11:59 AM

"The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie
the second down with the chains of the Constitution so the second will not
become the legalized version of the first."--Thomas Jefferson

Posted by: Ron W at February 23, 2006 08:21 PM