No matter the date, Jefferson is likely to get whacked at sentencing. Though the conviction was overwhelming — guilty on 11 of 16 counts — he’s not likely to show much remorse at sentencing because of his plan to appeal the conviction. He may either tell the judge he did some foolish things, but he’s not guilty of the charges he was convicted of. Or, he’ll just pass on making any statement in court. Either way, it’s not likely to impress the judge.
By Bruce Alpert
New Orleans Times-Picayune
WASHINGTON — Sentencing for former Rep. William Jefferson will be pushed back to Nov. 13, U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III ruled Wednesday.
Jefferson originally was scheduled for sentencing Oct. 30 after being found guilty by a Virginia jury on 11 of 16 corruption charges.
Also Wednesday, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals released a March 2007 ruling that allowed the Justice Department to use material taken from Jefferson’s congressional office.
The ruling had been sealed at Jefferson’s request because its release would have disclosed that he had invoked his 5th Amendment protection against self incrimination in trying to keep the documents out of the hands of investigators.
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