Hello from the federal courthouse, where former veteran Senate Intel staffer James Wolfe is due to appear at 2pm for sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with reporters buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
Wolfe is asking for no prison time, and his sentencing materials incl. letters of support from past/present Senate Intel members (Burr, Warner, Feinstein). Prosecutors want him incarcerated for two years, arguing what he did was very serious and disruptive
Correction: James Wolfe's sentencing hearing starts at 2:30pm, not 2pm
James Wolfe's sentencing hearing is underway. The judge begins by noting she received a letter from a person who identified themselves as "MALE-1" in the indictment — believed to be Carter Page, based on public reports matching info in charging papers
The judge, US District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, said she would make the "MALE-1" letter public after today's hearing, but wouldn't give it weight at sentencing because it didn't speak to sentencing factors and the govt hadn't said it qualified as a victim impact statement
Judge confirms that the sentencing guidelines range for Wolfe is 0-6 months in prison. Wolfe has asked for no prison time. Prosecutors want an upward departure, and they want Wolfe to spend two years in prison
Judge said she was "surprised" by the government's request for a stiffer sentence for Wolfe given the terms of the plea agreement — prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine said there was no concession about sentencing
Prosecutor is arguing the judge should consider the fact that Wolfe's lies to the FBI were about covering up the fact that he was providing sensitive, nonpublic info to reporters. The judge notes Wolfe wasn't charged with that, only the lying. Prosecutor says it's still relevant
Wolfe's lawyer points to a letter supporting Wolfe filed by Burr/Warner/Feinstein, not just as a character reference but as proof he didn't impair national security. He also argued a two-year prison sentence is "completely disproportionate" and a 400% increase from the guidelines 
The judge says she's concerned about prosecutors trying to use non-charged, non-criminal actions by Wolfe — being in touch with reporters and providing non-public info — to drive his sentence. Judge says having an affair and having contacts with reporters are not crimes
Now: The judge has rejected prosecutors' request for an upward departure from the sentencing guidelines for James Wolfe, which are 0-6 months in prison. The govt had asked for two years in prison for Wolfe, that's not going to happen
Wolfe is delivering an emotional statement to the judge before he is sentenced. His voice breaking up, he says that he lied to the FBI about his contacts with reporters "to protect my wife, my sons, and selfishly I lied about those to protect myself and my job"
Wolfe: "Your honor, I am so sorry, I am beyond embarassed, I am beyond humiliated, I am beyond mortified." He noted that what he did went against what he stressed to other committee staff about contacts with reporters, and that he had ruined his career
He apologized to his wife and sons, to law enforcement, to the court, and to his friends and colleagues on the Senate Intelligence Committee, and stressed that he did not compromise classified information or jeopardize national security.
The judge is now taking a 10-minute break
The judge is now taking a 10-minute break
The judge is back on the bench for James Wolfe's sentencing
The judge said she could imagine how scary it was for Wolfe when the FBI came around asking about his contacts with reporters, given his affair. But, the judge said, "you did have the option to tell the truth."
Judge, on why lying to the FBI matters: "Making false statements to a government agent is a federal crime precisely because of the risk that such lies will thwart legitimate law enforcement inquries, making it impossible for the truth to be known and for justice to be served."
The judge says she found it difficult to evaluate the significance of Wolfe's job as head of security for the Senate Intel Committee, but ultimately considered it an "aggravating" factor — he had a "special obligation" to follow the rules he was tasked with enforcing, she said
Judge says there is an "inequity" in suggesting a person who walks with senators and had every opportunity to do the right thing should be treated better at sentencing b/c "he has already suffered so much by virtue of having lost the advantages to which he has become accustomed"
Judge says that Wolfe seems "more culpable" than George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan, who both got prison time for lying, given Wolfe's position as a govt official tasked with protecting govt secrets
NOW: A federal judge has sentenced James Wolfe, the former director of security for the Senate Intelligence Committee, to *two months in prison* for lying to the FBI about his contact with reporters. Story shortly.
STORY: James Wolfe, a former Senate Intelligence Committee senior staffer, was sentenced to two months in prison for lying to the FBI about his contacts with reporters. The judge said the public shame and stigma wasn't enough for someone in his position buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
James Wolfe and his lawyers did not speak to reporters when they left the courthouse. He'll be allowed to self-surrender at a later date to serve his two-month prison sentence buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
Of note about James Wolfe's sentencing — George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan have become key benchmarks for sentencing in recent false statements cases. Judge today said Wolfe came out worse in the comparison, given his senior post in government buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
This sets up an interesting spectrum for the judge to consider when Michael Flynn is sentenced, also for lying — Wolfe (2 months) > van der Zwaan (30 days) > Papadopoulos (14 days, served 12). Judges consider how their sentence compares with similar cases buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
