newsobserver.com projects - Black sentenced - Comments

Re: Black sentenced

Senate — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:52:20 -0400

Pat

What both of those men have done to undermine public confidence in our government is inexcusable. Cunningham received a slightly reduced sentence for cooperating with prosecutors. I still think his sentence should have been stiffer.

Black did not cooperate with prosecutors (and judging by the sentencing documents there is a lot more corruption yet uncovered here in NC) and didn't get close to the max.

I believe both men deserve the maximum allowable sentence for the crimes they have committed.

This just shows that if you stonewall disparage the sentencing judges ability to be impartial, don't help clean up the mess you helped make, and lack contrition you're punishment will be no worse than it would otherwise have been.

Hopefully, he Black will be prosecuted for other crimes later and his state sentence will not be served concurrently with his federal sentence.

Re: A Travesty

patanthony — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:35:02 -0400

Seriously? Over 5 years in jail is a mockery of justice? Letting him off with community service, as he requested, would have been a mockery of justice. The prosecutor and the "watchdog" who brought this to our attention both seem satisfied with the sentence, and it doesn't seem out of line with similar cases, both here and elsewhere. Randy "Duke" Cunningham admitted taking $2.4 mil in bribes, and he got 8 years.

A Travesty

Senate — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:12:31 -0400

And a mockery of justice. They should have thrown away the key.

The man isn't even contrite. And doesn't seem to understand the magnitude of what he has done. He hasn't met the conditions of his plea agreements.

Mr. Black should be counting his blessings right now.

Black sentenced

bkrueger — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:52:12 -0400

Former House Speaker Jim Black was sentenced this morning to 63 months in prison.

He was also fined $50,000. He is supposed to report his preference for a federal prison by July 30.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated when Black must report to prison.