Newton, known for his flamboyant suits and outspoken style, pleaded guilty in September to bribery, tax evasion and mail fraud.
...
Newton's attorney, Salvatore DePiano, asked Nevas to sentence Newton to community service and home confinement. Federal prosecutors urged a longer sentence.
"We're talking about a long, pervasive, extensive pattern of corrupt conduct," said prosecutor James Finnerty. "He sold his office. It was Newton Inc., open for business 24-7." (AP)
Newton also apologized and downplayed allegations he had made earlier that the charges against him were racially motivated.
So it ends here, at least for now. He'll go to jail (for a lot longer than John Rowland, by the way) and pay the price for his crimes.
Newton, as I've said before, is a tragedy and a paradox. He was one of the most outspoken supporters of the disenfranchised in this state, and yet he had no problem exploiting the downtrodden (and others) for his own financial gain. We can just shake our heads, really.
Source
"Newton Sentenced To Five Years." Associated Press
7 comments:
Tragedy and a paradox? How about a hypocrite and a crook. He's also serving a shorter sentence than Joe Ganim, by the way....
GC,
Newton is a disgrace who had no problem exploiting the very people he was suppose to represent.
As a African-American, his ease in using the race card was simply disgusting and will be remembered by all minorities whenever his name is brought up in conversation.
This guy was a crook and fraud and he has opnly himself to blame for all of his troubles.
Some Moses.
He is a crook, a liar and a hypocrite. He betrayed his constituents. All of this is quite true.
However, I can't bring myself to dismiss him completely. He did stand up for the people of the city he grew up in on many occasions, especially during his long House career.
He strikes me as a man who tried to do the right thing, but was ultimately done in by his own failings. So while I'm glad he wad caught and is facing justice, I take no joy in his downfall.
GC:
I'd be more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt, as you are doing, in terms of his "stand[ing] up for the people of the city," if we didn't know that at least one of his "protests" over alleged racism at City Hall was, in fact, intended to pressure Ganim into giving him the no-show job he held.
Newton was a professional parasite, a leech, who exploited the poor people of his district - and I mean poor in all its senses. I would say he is beneath contempt except that somehow seems to excuse him - to somehow suggest he does not deserve contempt. He does.
And while it may be schadenfruede, I do take joy in his downfall. It is so richly deserved, so thoroughly fitting, so deliciously revealing in the hypocrisy it punctures.
Newton was never the mythic "poor kid from the ghetto who made good." He was a fraud - and most egregiously, a fraud on people who could least afford one.
You're so correct A Different Anonymous
I will never respect a lawmaker who steals from the very people he is to represent.
Again, his use of the race card at such a late ppoint in his investigation should tell you enough about the inner workings of this individual.
I'm not shedding a tear over this case. Hopefully, this will be the last Democratic crook from Bridgeport we'll have to deal with.
As someone who has had to work with the esteemed Newton...he deserves every second he got.
typical democrat
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