JUST POSTED: A case study in how to get out of jail--if you are rich and have been convicted of largest Medicare fraud case in US history. Donate money to a charity. Get them to intervene with Trump. Boom. You are free. With @kenvogel & @JesseDrucker nytimes.com/2020/12/24/us/…
FYI, was fascinating to read as he all but begged a federal judge last year to not give him a long prison sentence. Judge still sentenced him to 20 years. So Philip Esformes found another route: a religious group his dad donated money to push Trump to get him out of jail
And here is what he said just before he was sentenced....
Here are excerpts from sentencing memos from DOJ prosecutors who along with the FBI spent years of their lives bringing a case against a guy convicted of one of the largest Medicare fraud cases in US history. A year later, Trump commuted what is left of his 20 yr jail term.
And here is the response--just abt a year later--from President Trump justice.gov/pardon/page/fi…
Been a reporter for more than three decades. This one really hit me. Read again what federal prosecutors said as they pushed judge last year to impose a long prison sentence. Esformes believed he could buy his way out of illegal conduct. Case proven.
And yes, he is already out of jail....
Oh yes, forgot abt this one. Was floored on Thursday when we found this among the thousands of entries in criminal case court docket. Esformes lawyers detail the $$$ donations to nonprofit group that then lobbied White House this year for Esformes' get-out-of-jail-free card.
Read the whole story, and share. Story by me, @kenvogel and @JesseDrucker nytimes.com/2020/12/24/us/…

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More from @EricLiptonNYT

25 Dec
You can't erase history: Charles Kushner, a multimillionaire real estate executive, philanthropist and a top Democratic donors, sentenced to years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, witness tampering, making illegal campaign donations nytimes.com/2005/03/05/nyr…
Bernard B. Kerik, a former New York police commissioner who rose to national prominence, was sentenced to four years in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty to eight felony charges, including tax fraud and lying to White House officials. nytimes.com/2010/02/19/nyr…
Michael R. Milken, the once-powerful financier who came to symbolize a decade of excess, was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for violating Federal securities laws and committing other crimes. nytimes.com/1990/11/22/bus…
Read 12 tweets
25 Dec
In case you missed it, the sentencing memo from DOJ prosecutors who along with the FBI spent years of their lives bringing a case against a guy convicted of one of the largest Medicare fraud cases in US history. A year later, Trump commuted what is left of his 20 yr jail term.
If you want to read the entire memo, here it is int.nyt.com/data/documentt…. And here is a second related memo.
And here is the response--just abt a year later--from President Trump justice.gov/pardon/page/fi…
Read 4 tweets
23 Dec
UPDATE: A federal court judge in DC on today (Tuesday Dec. 22) imposed a temporary restraining order on helium drilling project on pristine federal lands in Utah that I wrote about in SUNDAY NYT. int.nyt.com/data/documentt…
Here is the story. This was one of four projects that I focused on in this story. It is a temporary restraining order, which is very unusual, as Interior has not even issued the drilling permit yet. But judge agreed that his action would be moot if he waited.
Here is the story from Sunday's paper. Final approval of this Utah project had been expected as soon as Dec. 23, with construction slated to begin immediately . nytimes.com/2020/12/19/us/…
Read 6 tweets
23 Dec
Trump pardon fest begins. Among those at head of the line: two ex Republican House lawmakers convicted of federal crimes.
Other pardons include George Papadopoulos, former Trump campaign aide who has spent months sending tweets praising Trump and anything and everything having to do with him.
We did a piece a few weeks ago that discussed George Papadopoulos and his pursuit of a pardon, among others. @kenvogel nytimes.com/2020/11/25/us/…
Read 7 tweets
20 Dec
MINING THREAD PART 4: Industrial-scale helium project will be give FINAL approve by Trump Interior Depart(not mining but drilling) as soon as this week in one of most iconic locations in US. An unspoiled area of majestic beauty. Pics by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance/Bloxham
The plan near here, in part controlled by Interior's Bureau of Land Management: one of the largest helium drilling operations in the US. Would start small, to prove the reserves. But backers of project could ultimately produce "5 to 10% of world annual helium production"
As BLM evaluated this project, it asked a series of questions.
Read 12 tweets
19 Dec
MINING THREAD PART 3: Let's turn to South Dakota's famed Black Hills and the land of near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. A MASSIVE uranium mine is planned, in part on federal land. But here is the rub. All of this territory is still claimed by Sioux Nation of Indians
The Canadian-based mine developer, Azarga Uranium, just got approve from Trump-era EPA to inject a chemical called lixiviant via so-called Deep Injection Wells into underground water supply to force uranium to leach into the water.
Here is a critical EPA document that looks at the damage this project will do to groundwater in the area. Read it yourself. EPA, based on consultant study, argues harm will be in Uranium ore area, not drinking water area. Tribe is not convinced. epa.gov/sites/producti…
Read 6 tweets

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