By: Benyamin Davidsons
Bernie Madoff refuses to accept defeat.
The former money manager, who was convicted of masterminding the notorious Ponzi scheme, has asked for President Donald Trump’s help in getting a reduced sentence. While the 81-year-old shied away from asking for a full pardon, he has petitioned for a “commutation of sentence”, or to decrease his 150-year jail sentence. The petition for clemency, filed with the Justice Department, is currently listed as “pending” on the agency’s website. While it is not known when exactly Madoff filed the petition, it was first reported last week, by NBC news.
In March 2009, Madoff pleaded guilty to 11 financial crimes. On June 29, 2009, Judge Chin sentenced Madoff to the maximum sentence of 150 years in federal prison. Once the esteemed Chairman of the NASDAQ, Madoff has since been serving his sentence at a federal prison in Butner, North Carolina. Madoff was taken to the hospital a few times during his early incarceration, due to injuries incurred in prison.
It is being widely speculated whether Mr. Trump will deny or accept Madoff’s request. As reported by USA Today, the President has only rarely pardoned or given clemency during his term to those who applied formally through the Justice Department. Last year, Trump denied 180 requests from prisoners who applied for pardons and commutations through the DOJ.
Incidentally, Trump has occasionally pardoned political allies who did not officially apply for a pardon, as well as people who were recommended by celebrities. Recipients of his good will include Dinesh D’Souza, the conservative political commentator charged with making illegal campaign contributions in a senate campaign, and Joe Arpaio, former Sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona and Republican politician charged with criminal contempt of court.
Furthering the case for commentators who predict Trump will deny the request for clemency, are the comments Trump has made about Madoff in the past. In 2008, when the allegations were first rising up, during a CNN interview Trump called Madoff a “sleazebag,” “a total crook,” and a “disgrace”. In his 2009 book, “Think Like a Champion,” Trump also seized the opportunity to criticized Madoff. “He is without a doubt a sleazebag and a scoundrel without par,” Trump wrote.
Marc Litt, who was the head federal prosecutor in the criminal case against Madoff, expressed his dismay at Madoff’s request. “Bernard Madoff received a fair and just sentence – one that both appropriately punished him for decades of criminal conduct that caused devastating damage to tens of thousands of victims, and sent a loud and clear message to deter would-be fraudsters,” said Litt. “Madoff’s current request is the very definition of chutzpah.”
