Ex-campaign manager pleads guilty to making false statements

AP ^ | 11/14/5 | BEVERLEY WANG

[SmithL]

Concord, N.H. -- Fraudulent bookkeeping last year crushed Democrat Burt Cohen's U.S. Senate hopes. Now the man responsible for it faces a prison term.

Jesse Burchfield, 32, of Sacramento, pleaded guilty Monday in federal court to one count of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. Burchfield has been in California since quitting the campaign in June 2004, around the time Cohen aides realized they were unable to account for thousands of dollars in campaign cash. The discovery killed Cohen's campaign on June 10, 2004, one day before the filing period closed.

"I look forward to justice being done," Cohen said Monday before the hearing. "I've been through an unbelievable nightmare."

According to court documents, Burchfield understated campaign expenses and overstated the amount of cash on hand by about $300,000 in filings to the commission. He faces a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison. But Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Zuckerman recommended Burchfield serve one year of probation in exchange for cooperating with the commission's civil investigation. Sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 22.

[SmithL]

What's a little embezzlement among DUmmies?

[11Bush]

"I look forward to justice being done," Cohen said Monday before the hearing. "I've been through an unbelievable nightmare."

and

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Zuckerman recommended Burchfield serve one year of probation in exchange for cooperating with the commission's civil investigation.

Cohen may not want justice to be served if Burchfield rolls over on him.

[txroadhawg]

That's funny, I haven't read about this in the MSM.