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Posted on 07/09/2003 5:07:32 AM PDT by RJCogburn
The former executive director of the Virginia Republican Party was sentenced today to three years of probation and fined $5,000 for illegally intercepting a Democratic Party conference call.
The former official, Edmund A. Mr. Matricardi III, apologized before Judge James R. Spencer of Federal District Court for illegally eavesdropping on two calls among the state's top Democrats in March of last year.
"I stand before you a humbled man," Mr. Matricardi, 35, said.
He said he had not known he was breaking the law when he joined the call using access codes provided by a disgruntled former Democratic Party worker, but he acknowledged that it was a mistake nonetheless.
Judge Spencer said he agonized over Mr. Matricardi's sentence.
"A number of things would have pushed it to jail time to send a message," Judge Spencer said, "but I tried to give Mr. Matricardi the individual treatment that he deserves. The thing that concerned me is, I think of all the young Democrats and young Republicans forming on college campuses and getting ready to join the culture wars."
The sentencing leaves Mr. Matricardi, who oversaw the Virginia Republican Party's daily operations during three years of unparalleled ascendancy, unable to vote or hold public office. His law license has already been suspended.
Mr. Matricardi, in an appearance before Judge Spencer on April 1, pleaded guilty to a single felony count of intercepting a wire communication. In exchange, prosecutors agreed to seek only probation and a fine but no jail time.
So whatever happened to Jim McDermott and the Florida couple who intercepted and recorded the cellphone conversation of Gingrich and other republicans?
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FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
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It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
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Of course, if it had been a Democrat, the headline would instead have read, "Official Sentenced for Eavesdropping".
The Florida couple, John and Alice Martin, eventually were charged, pleaded guilty and paid a fine of $500 each.
In 1998, Boehner filed a civil lawsuit against McDermott, which is still pending (as of April, 2003).
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