Topic: Dinesh D'Souza Pleads Guilty

[AlanS]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dinesh-dsouza-pleads-guilty-making-705819

The filmmaker behind "2016: Obama's America" faces up to two years in prison; the more serious charges are expected to be dropped.

Conservative filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza has struck a deal with prosecutors over charges he used straw donors to give $15,000 more to a U.S. Senate campaign than is allowed under campaign finance laws, authorities said Tuesday.

D’Souza was to have started his trial this week in New York, but instead he pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of making illegal campaign contributions, which carries a maximum two-year sentence. He’s expected to be sentenced in about four months.

EXCLUSIVE: President Obama's Half Brother Backs Out of Interview With Dinesh D'Souza Over Indictment

In exchange for D’Souza’s plea, prosecutors are expected to drop the more serious charge of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

D’Souza was indicted in January for asking some friends to donate money to the campaign of Wendy Long, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully against Democratic incumbent Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in New York in 2012, and allegedly promising to reimburse them for their donations.

From the beginning, attorney Benjamin Brafman characterized his client’s alleged transgression as “an act of misguided friendship,” and he and others have said federal authorities were engaging in payback for D’Souza’s movie 2016: Obama’s America, a hit documentary that portrayed President Barack Obama in a negative light.

“It’s a remarkably selective prosecution, considering Obama raised millions of dollars under similar circumstances and donors merely faced civil fines while D’Souza is charged with felony violation of federal law,” Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas told The Hollywood Reporter in February.

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Dinesh D'Souza to Take on NSA in Upcoming 'America'

Likewise, Gerald Molen, who produced 2016 and is also producing D’Souza’s next film, America, told THR last week that the arrest amounted to “political intimidation," and he called for the charges to be dropped. On Tuesday, Molen added, "Anyone who knows Dinesh knows that none of this will deter him from continuing to speak out about this administration or other public issues and making sure that our movie is released on schedule."

Brafman also filed papers claiming that the government "targeted" D'Souza because of his "highly publicized criticism" of the president, though a judge last week was unsympathetic to that argument.

On Tuesday, Brafman told THR that D'Souza did, in fact, urge two associates to donate $10,000 each to Long's campaign and then reimbursed them; therefore, "there was no viable defense" against the charges.

STORY: Lionsgate to Distribute Dinesh D'Souza's 'America'

"We are hopeful that Judge [Richard] Berman will recognize Mr. D'Souza to be a fundamentally honorable man who should not be imprisoned for what was an isolated instance of wrongdoing in an otherwise productive and responsible life," Brafman said.

While insiders say the filming of America has been more difficult because of D’Souza’s indictment, Lionsgate is expected to open it wide on schedule July 2. One piece of fallout related to the arrest, though, is that Obama’s half brother, Mark Obama Ndesandjo, pulled out of an interview, with a representative writing in an email to the filmmakers: “Upon reconsideration, Mark has decided it would not be appropriate to join your project while the federal investigation of Mr. D’Souza is ongoing.”

This isn't going to help his credibility any.

[Libertas]

Yeah, well...unfortunately in Two-America's America...only one side is ever a) caught b) prosecuted c) convicted and d) sentenced...the other side is lauded, hailed, paraded on all the trendy TV and radio shows, given hot babes, blow and booze and generally a celebrity for life...

Would have been better to go down swinging...

Just chug back some Brawndo and chill...all is well...

[BigAlSouth]

Just two words:

Jon Corzine.

[richb]

The biggest problem with this all, is the multiple counts they charge people with.   They do it, because they know,  something may stick,  even if its not the main charge.   So they win,  even when they "lose".   Most juries may not want to stick a defendant with the worst charges so they pick one of the lessor charges to convict,  instead of sending someone home like they should.    The without a doubt has gone the way of the dodo bird.   
 
This seems a case of selective (political) enforcement too,  so it doubly stinks.   

[Libertas]

Just two words:

Jon Corzine.

Two more words:

Hang him.

[Libertas]

The biggest problem with this all, is the multiple counts they charge people with.   They do it, because they know,  something may stick,  even if its not the main charge.   So they win,  even when they "lose".   Most juries may not want to stick a defendant with the worst charges so they pick one of the lessor charges to convict,  instead of sending someone home like they should.    The without a doubt has gone the way of the dodo bird.   
 
This seems a case of selective (political) enforcement too,  so it doubly stinks.

It's called "pleading in the alternative" in legalesse...and it is a well established practice.  And look how successful lawyers have been over the decades...do "frivolous" cases or fishing expeditions get thrown out or reigned in any more?  Not so much...

And to your last point, yes, welcome to Two America's...

Psssst!  The America you are in is under seige...which I know you already know...

[Glock32]

Mark Steyn discussed this when he filled in for Rush the other day.  He pointed out that when the feds bring charges against someone, and it actually goes to court, the feds win 97% of the time. That's some ridiculous, almost North Korea like statistics. So people will often just plead guilty to take the lesser punishment and be over with it.

On a related subject I also do not like the enormous prevalence of plea bargaining in our "justice" system. To tie back in with what Rich said, they'll just shotgun the accused with a multitude of charges knowing the defendant's council will suggest they accept a lesser plea to avoid the possibility of being sent up for the larger charges. This is largely done to embellish a prosecutor's record. It's resulted in a system where entirely innocent people will plead guilty because they fear if they try to prove their innocence in court they'll end up being railroaded. Better to take a 2 year sentence for something even though you know you didn't do it, than to risk being put away for 20 -- especially when you have no faith in the courts.

Plea bargaining makes a mockery of justice.

[AlanS]

It's resulted in a system where entirely innocent people will plead guilty because they fear if they try to prove their innocence in court they'll end up being railroaded.

So much for innocent until proven guilty.

[Libertas]

Well, when the shat hits the fan...

   &   

...will cast their vote on all statists.