Martha Stewart Calls Prosecution A Circus Event

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Martha Stewart Sentenced To 5 Months In Prison

Special to EconomicBriefing.com July 16, 2004- Choking back tears, Martha Stewart told the court on the day of her sentencing, "Today is a shameful day for me, my family and my company...I have been choked and suffocated... Peace be with you."

She was then sentenced to 5 months in jail, followed by 5 months home detention. During home detention she will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, but will be allowed to leave her home for up to 48 hours per week to go to work.

Stewart also received 2 years probation and a fine of $30,000.

The judge will recommend that Stewart serve her 5 months at the minimum security prison in Danbury, CT.

Stewart was required to choose one residence as the residence where she will serve her home detention. Stewart chose her home in Bedford, New York.

The sentence was stayed pending appeal by Martha Stewart.

Following the sentencing Stewart gave a brief statement outside the court house where she reiterated that it was a shameful day for her and that "... a small personal matter has been blown all out of proportion with venom...into a circus event."

Immediately after the sentencing Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSO) stock soared to $11.07 per share up more than 30%.

[Orange1998]

Lost something like $30 million when the price of her company's stock dropped.

Sure she did. sarcasm off

Today her stock in the company went up 98 million dollars. She will have enough money to appeal.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Are you telling me that it is now a felony in America for a person being questioned by the police to assert their innocence?

No, but it was, and continues to be, a federal crime to lie to FBI agents. She did so. End of story.

[laotzu]

"Filthy rich folk usually NEVER pay the penalty!!"

Yea!! Let's all hate the rich!!(/sarcasm)

The rich pay for everything, everyday, for us all. As a consequence, they pay penalties for everything, everyday, for us all.

But; there is always your appreciation to make it all worth while.

[RedEyeJack]

Martha is a Democrat. She has automatic rights to vindication. In Fact if she could find a way to blame W for her actions she would get a lot more sympathy from the media.

[SirBuck911]

Martha,
Face up to it. It was not a personal matter that was blown out of proportion. I was a matter of you violating Federal security laws. And then, it was a matter of you publicly lying about it.
And the irony is that the drug that was not approved by the FDA and the reason you sold is now approved and Imclone is trading @ $80 (you claim to have had a sell order @ $60)
Now this clears it up. You made a bad sell order and you are pissed because you have lost major $ over a simple small quantity stock ownership deal.

[Orange1998]

If she would have just shut up she would not be in this position. She came forward with information that turned out to be a lie. If anything she should have been charged for giving a false report.

[LetsRok]

Lost something like $30 million when the price of her company's stock dropped.

Paper losses are not real until you sell the stock. I suppose that if you invested $100 in a stock and it went up to $100,000 the next day and then dropped back to $100 a day later you would say that you lost $99,900?

[no_problema]

the feminists at usa today said she shouldn't get a sentence, that she should get probation to teach women.

also, usa today said that lea fastow shouldn't get prison because she was the daughter of a millionaire, implying that her husband, andrew, who did not grow up with wealth, was the guilty one. apparently by this emoting, rich women aren't guilty!

[Moonman62]

But some people don't like Martha, therefore they think the railroading is justified. Martha got in the way of a federal government that was trying to distract people from its own misdeeds.

[laotzu]

"So it's OK to lie to the FBI - assuming you're one of the elite?"

ClaireSolt seemed to be under the impression there was insider trading.....as evidenced in the quote I clearly provided.

I made no inference to the legitamacy of lieing to the FBI.

As to assuming I'm one of the elite......thank you very much.

[eureka!]

I myself am surprised here at all the defenders. That she was not under oath is a red herring--she lied (after engaging her lawyers) and participated in a conspiracy where the principal Waksal got serious time. I wonder if the Martha defenders would sing the same song if it was John Q. Public lying to the feds during a terrorism investigation and thwarting the timely finding of the facts. Martha made a choice: fess up and pay (much less) the piper or assume an arrogant in your face attitude. She made the wrong one.....

[traumer]

I beg your pardon, this is rather PERSONAL....... :o)

[Hunble]

Martha Stewart and former President Clinton violated the exact same law.

President Clinton was not even fired from his job and never served a single day in jail.

Martha Stewart was sentenced to 5 months in jail, followed by 5 months home detention. Stewart also received 2 years probation and a fine of $30,000.

Now, can anyone explain to me why a private citizen is held to a higher standard than the President of the United States?

This is disgusting!

[Kerfuffle]

"During home detention she will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device"

Thank God.... otherwise, she might try to sneak out and steal a car to do a driveby shooting or such.

Free Martha!

[bikepacker67]

I wasn't assuming your status as an elite, but a smart guy like you already knew that.

[Caipirabob]

Martha Stewart Calls Prosecution A Circus Event

I'm sure that will help the appeal.

[laotzu]

"I was a matter of you violating Federal security laws."

No. It was not.

Why do so many insist on selling, and repeating this lie?

[LetsRok]

This whole prosecution is bogus. I'm no fan of Martha stewart but since when in America do we prosecute folks for "lying" to the FBI during the course of an investigation of a crime for which we're never charged?

Our whole rule of law assumes that people will tell the truth when questioned by the government. I would support 5 years minimum for ANYONE who lies to a government official regardless if they part of an investigation. Lying costs the taxpayers more money by prolonging an investigation. I hate liars and anyone who accepts lying as a legitimate way of doing business.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Thats how most people get in trouble. The old "The coverup is worse than the crime" adage still applies... Had she just kept her mouth shut, she wouldn't be in this mess.

Personally, I think she should sue her lawyer because he didn't tell her to shut the hell up. He didn't do his job.

[Servant of the 9]

Following the sentencing Stewart gave a brief statement outside the court house

In which she once more demonstrated the almost psychotic self centeredness and nastness for which she was actually convicted.

The charge was nonsense, but when half the people in the country hate your personality and would love a chance to punch you out, you are gonna get convicted.

So9