Abramoff Claims He's Broke

The fact that he's up for sentencing in Miami for his admitted fraud in the purchase of the Sun Cruz Casinos has nothing to do with it. His defense sentencing memo has this absolute marvel:

In his overly determined pursuit of helping people and charities, Mr. Abramoff spent virtually all of the funds he earned in his various business dealings. He has no real assets beyond their home and its contents. Determined to help others, and confident that he could always earn more money if needed, he ignored the guidance of his financial advisors and accountants who repeatedly warned him that he needed to put funds aside into personal savings. Now, Mr. Abramoff is broke. He is tormented daily that his wife will not be able to support the large family on her own and chagrined that, instead of being a provider and source of aid for his community, he will now see his own family needing financial assistance.

You'll have to forgive me if I don't believe a word of that.

Another wonderful bit of ass covering from the same memo:

One interesting note is that for the type of offense Mr. Abramoff has committed, various countries never incarcerate a defendant and often take age into account in deciding who should use precious penal resources. As Justice Kennedy observed: "In countries such as England, Italy, France and Germany, the incarceration rate is about 1 in 1,000 persons. In the United States it is about 1 in 143. . . . Our resources are misspent, our punishments too severe, our sentences too long."

Now, my understanding is that the right wing is vehemently opposed to the use of any foreign precedents being used by judges. I guess when it's you're lying ass is on the line, party line goes out the window.

Oh, and here's a list of 260 people who wrote letters on his behalf. Some are from prominent persons, including Congressman Dana Rohrabacher... Here's the Miami Herald's take.

Credit to Talk Left.

Jack Abramoff