Oh, sure she did. Lost something like $30 million when the price of her company's stock dropped. Paid who knows how many millions in legal fees. Will never be able to hold a position of trust or serve on the board of any public company. Will spend much of the next three years in confinement or reporting to a probation officer. All of that for telling a lie to cover up a stock transaction that probably was not illegal in the first place.
Yeah, I'd say she got off real easy.
Yeah, I'd say she got off real easy.
Legally, she DID get off EASY.
She did break the law and she was found guilty. She is as guilty as any bank robber, but of course we Americans have always subscribed to the double standard of "white collar crime" getting more lenient treatment than other types of crime.
"A small personal matter" - this is how shameless arrogant Stewart describes her insider stock manipulation greed.
At least the DOJ went after her. In fact, this administration has gone after more big crony capitalists than any other administration since TR. One after the other they are putting them away.
The mood was "anything goes" during the lawless Clinton 90's and clamping down on these robbbers is welcome and overdue.
Sure she did. sarcasm off
Today her stock in the company went up 98 million dollars. She will have enough money to appeal.
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.
Because she's Hillary's liberal Democrat friend, Martha thought she could lie to authorities just like Hillary and get by with it.
"All of that for telling a lie to cover up a stock transaction that probably was not illegal in the first place."
I have zero sympathy for her. I believe it was an illegal trade, she knew it. Then, rather than try and do an honorable thing by admitting it and correcting it, she lied, tried to cover it up, and had others lie for her. Not to mention blame everyone except herself. She made this bed, no one else.
I completely agree. This whole thing stinks. I think Martha has been nailed to the wall for something stupid. I cant believe that she will be doing time in a prison with real criminals, probably be rooming with some child molester. Doesnt seem right? I hear people say "well she did break the law". This is a bogus excuse. 99% of us break the law everyday by speeding on the way to work. This is about the same magnitude of what she did. Just pisses me off that we waste time pursuing stuff like this and not pursuing REAL criminals...
"All of that for telling a lie to cover up a stock transaction that probably was not illegal in the first place."
First off, I agree that she has probably paid a steep price for this crime. But the price she paid was outside of the legal system. The problem is all those vermin like the Enron, Global Crossing, Tyco, and other coporation execs. I heard an analyst say, what Ms. Stewart did is how it starts. Bend a rule here, lie about it there. I resist those who say she did nothing wrong, just lie. A lie, at the wrong time, can be most damaging. But, even though Ms. Stewart has a very dislikable persona, she shouldn't be punished for her persona.
Anyway, the legal system must punish her. They did, it's fair. Let the woman get on with her life. Message to those of influence who can hurt others in their greed: Do it at your own peril, you could go to jail.
And that's a good thing. :)
Lets face it, she's a greedy, rich bit** you got off easy. She made her bed by being greedy and was willing to spend her money trying to get away with her greed.
I have no pity for her, it was her choice.
What I find amusing is that for each Martha you lock up...there are 300,000 others sitting there...and nothing happened to them. Ten years ago, I had an associate give me a small tip....a stock that would advance in 3 months by at least $5. I could have bought the stock and made at least $3k if I really believed the guy. This happens all the time now. You have junior people in an organization who are selling these tips...just to make a cut for themselves.