Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Ellen S. Huvelle:Arraignment as to HORACE M. COOPER (1) on Count 1 held on 4/7/2010, plea of guilty entered as to Count 1. REFERRAL TO PROBATION OFFICE for Presentence Investigation. Sentencing set for 7/1/2010 at 10:30 AM in Courtroom 14 before Judge Ellen S. Huvelle. Bond Status of Defendant: Defendant placed on personal recognizance.
We believe Mr. Cooper pled guilty to the misdemeanor count in last week's Information. We're still hoping to get a plea agreement to see if Mr. Cooper is required to assist prosecutors in other cases.
Good job DoJ!
16 comments:
according to this article, it doesn't sound like he'll be singing... It also doesn't paint a very flattering picture of the government's case.
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2010/04/07/justice-gives-up-bungled-abramoff-related-lobbying-case.html
I had this guy as a law professor at GMU School of Law. He taught legislation. Wasn't a very impressive teacher, and I had no idea that after class he'd scurry on over to Abramoff's restaurant for free food and drinks. He talked about the integrity of the Congress. Integrity indeed!
I don't understand how the verussio case is any different. shouldn't he get the same walk?
the whole thing is over. Someday law school students will read about Abramoff/Stevens and the attempt by the DOJ to use HSF as a catch-all for anything they thought a) smelled bad, and b) thought they could use to advance their own career. The prosecutors involved in this ordeal will be infamous - which is ironic considering the crusade they thought they had embarked upon.
Anon (April 7, 2010 7:06 PM):
In U.S. v. Horace Cooper, neither the original indictment nor the "Information" to which Mr. Cooper pled contained allegations of Honest Services Fraud.
~ACR
ACR,
ok, so the PIS was fabricating even more serious charges...they indicted him on 5 felony counts and dropped them all in exchange for a reckless driving equivelent (note to readers, if you've ever gone more than 15 mph over the posted speeding limit, you and Cooper share a similar level offense). Thanks for correcting me.
Good job DoJ!
Anon (April 7, 2010 7:39 PM):
the PIS was fabricating even more serious charges
Oh come on. PIN thought they could get felony convictions. Mr. Cooper and his defense team thought they could get off Scot-free. I assure you that neither side is 100% happy with this outcome. But to say that PIN fabricated anything is over the top.
~ACR
ACR
I guess the judge was more inclined towards mine and the defense's pov.
pretty big deal to summarily drop 5 alleged felony offenses after getting bitch slapped by a federal judge. Something you yourself admitted regretting to witness...
Anon (April 7, 2010 8:27 PM):
As you wrote, I did mention that the DoJ got slapped around in Judge Huvelle's motion hearings. I also noted the significant drop from the five felony indictment to the one misdemeanor information.
I try to be a fair observer of events, and I think I've accomplished that. Honestly, the only difference in opinion that we seem to have is that I think pleading guilty to a crime is a serious matter and you don't.
~ACR
I don't think it's over, not even close.
The natural evolution of their crimes have created some very unique characters and scenarios that will come to light eventually.
Don't look away, the best is yet to come.
I agree pleading guilty to a crime is a serious matter. What I don't think you understand is perspective. The DOJ went after this guys like he was mobster based on evidence, that according to the Judge, probably didn't pass the prima facia test. He lied to investigators - that's wrong and he ought to be held accountable. But for the DOJ to hound him for over a year and try to convince him to confess to crimes he didn't committ is crazy. Surely there are more pressing matters at the DOJ. In the end, he got a slap on the wrist. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that what he plead to is only a misdemeanor but that only reinforces my conviction that the whole case was a shame to begin with.
Look - bottom line: For me at least, Cooper is just another disgrace to the GOP. This is a party that once stood tall against corruption, and here many of you are splitting hairs and arguing at length about the DEGREE of his corruption. AGAIN, HORACE COOPER IS A DISGRACE.
He and his ilk keep the GOP synonymous with corruption in the eyes in the voters, and to the degree idiots like some of the commenters on here defend ANY of his behavior SHAME ON YOU!
"What I don't think you understand is perspective" - WHAT A CROCK! Dude - ACR gets it, you clearly don't.
Anon 7:29
http://www.encounterbooks.com/books/threefelonies/
bottom line is the DOJ officials are equally culpable in this case. If Cooper hadn't ever met Abramoff, and thereby been seen as a prize, this whole sad episode never would have happened. That's the bottom line.
Here, Here ! Anonymous at 7:19 p.m.
Anon (April 8, 2010 8:09 PM):
I am continuously amazed at how many comments defend the people caught up in the Abramoff scandal. Do you think that the fact that Horace Cooper "willfully made materially false and misleading statements and representations" to FBI agents had anything to do with his indictment?
~ACR
ACR
If you had read an earlier comment, you would have seen that I make no excuse for intentionally making false claims to the FBI. That is a serious crime and I agree with you that he needs to be held accountable. My point is, imagine if the FBI showed up at your door one day, 5 to 7 years after the fact and then accused you of crimes you didn't commit, but were scared you were being railroaded into - you might panic and say things that you thought were stretching the truth in your favor but defensibly honest. The point is, if the case didn't have the Abramoff sex appeal to DOJ, he never would have been subjected to this ordeal. Again, he admitted intentionally misleading the FBI. I won't defend that. I will only say that he got charged with that because the DOJ couldn't prove their underlying case.
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