Ex-Iowa senator Kent Sorenson gets prison in Ron Paul pay-for-endorsement scheme

[CaseyJones]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nati...974d7c-dce3-11e6-8902-610fe486791c_story.html

Former Iowa Sen. Kent Sorenson, who accepted money for endorsing presidential candidate Ron Paul in 2012, was sentenced to 15 months in prison Tuesday — even though prosecutors had sought only probation.

In Judge Robert Pratt’s surprise decision, he said “political corruption is slowly eroding the foundations of our Democracy” and those who betray the public trust must be punished.

Minutes before Pratt announced the sentence in federal court in Des Moines, Sorenson said he is filled with regret and apologized to the people of Iowa and his former colleagues in the Iowa Legislature. The Republican, who was a sought-after Iowa politician as GOP presidential candidates began campaigning in Iowa in advance of the January 2012 Iowa caucuses, said he was “cocky, arrogant and filled with misguided ideas” after defeating a Democratic incumbent to win his Senate seat.

Sorenson first signed on as Iowa chairman of Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign but shifted support to Ron Paul just days before the caucuses. Even though Iowa Senate rules prohibit lawmakers from taking money from a political campaign, Sorenson accepted $59,000 from Bachmann’s campaign, then $73,000 for an endorsement of Paul.

Pratt allowed Sorenson, now 44, to remain free on bond and report to prison when told, likely in a few weeks.

Sorenson initially told a state Senate committee that he didn’t take the money, but he resigned in October 2013 when the committee concluded he’d taken money. He also lied to federal agents who were investigating whether the Paul campaign illegally concealed the payments but later decided to cooperate with the government.

In a plea deal, Sorensen agreed to testify against three Ron Paul campaign aides, who were charged with covering up the payments. Campaign chairman Jesse Benton and campaign manager John Tate received two years’ probation, and deputy campaign manager Dimitri Kesari received up to three months in prison. All are appealing their convictions.

Federal prosecutor Richard Pilger asked for two years of probation and community service for Sorenson, even though the maximum penalties for the charges he faced — causing false reports and obstructing an investigation — were 25 years in prison.

Pratt said Tuesday that Sorenson only came forward after the FBI raided his house and took evidence, and pointed out Sorenson took secret payments while serving as a publicly elected official.

“A term of incarceration is required to reflect the seriousness of the offense and deter systemic political corruption,” he said.

Outside of the courthouse, members of Sorenson’s family threateningly drove an SUV over a curb and onto the courthouse sidewalk and concrete entryway near reporters — and a few feet from the front door in an apparent attempt to shield Sorenson. A federal security agent pounded his fist on the vehicle and told the Sorenson family to get the vehicle away from the building.

The vehicle sped away as a daughter flashed an obscene hand gesture and cursed at reporters through an open window. Sorenson didn’t comment.

 

[asurfaholic]

This confuses me. Who ordered the payment? Who decided to pay him for an endorsement? I can't imagine Ron Paul would ever do anything out of line, but how is he not even in the picture? This whole thing seems so rotten and out of character. Does anyone have any insight? This article states that Jesse Benton and John Tate are appealing their convictions- on what grounds?

 

[CPUd]

 

[CPUd]

I don't remember all the details, but IIRC, Jesse and John Tate either got acquitted or hung jury on the more serious charges. The prosecutor filed or re-tried on lesser charges and they were convicted on those and got probation.

 

[Matt Collins]

I don't remember all the details, but IIRC, Jesse and John Tate either got acquitted or hung jury on the more serious charges. The prosecutor filed or re-tried on lesser charges and they were convicted on those and got probation.

They got house arrest. Dimitri got 6 months of prison

 

[Matt Collins]

That judge is an asshole... probably a Democrat hack if I had to guess.

 

[asurfaholic]

Why do you say that? If these guys really did pay him that amount of money and it was all how this article says it was, why would t we stand up and cheer that at least someone ends up in prison for it?

The principle being that fair elections can't be possible when politicians are being bought and paid for...

 

[Weston White]

This article states that Jesse Benton and John Tate are appealing their convictions- on what grounds?

The NAP?

...Why isn't Bachmann’s campaign involved with this as well then?

 

[Philmanoman]

I guess I don't get why it's illegal.
Is it really that much different than CPACs?

I figure pay for endorsement is like holding in football...happens on every play.

 

[Schifference]

That judge is an $#@!... probably a Democrat hack if I had to guess.

How would that judge rule in a Clinton pay for play trial?

 

[jllundqu]

I would also like to know how high up it went. I can't imagine Benton throwing around $73,000.00 without some approval from someone

 

[angelatc]

Why do you say that? If these guys really did pay him that amount of money and it was all how this article says it was, why would t we stand up and cheer that at least someone ends up in prison for it?

The principle being that fair elections can't be possible when politicians are being bought and paid for...

I am a firm believer that elected officials should be held to a higher standard than mundanes. Therefore, I can justify sending Sorenson to prison while the others got probation.

 

[angelatc]

I guess I don't get why it's illegal.
Is it really that much different than CPACs?

I figure pay for endorsement is like holding in football...happens on every play.

I do not recall the exact details but it was a violation of MN law.

 

[angelatc]

This article states that Jesse Benton and John Tate are appealing their convictions- on what grounds?

The grounds that they don't want to be blacklisted from their political gravy train.

 

[Suzanimal]

The NAP?

...Why isn't Bachmann’s campaign involved with this as well then?

I don't understand that, either.

Sorenson accepted $59,000 from Bachmann’s campaign, then $73,000 for an endorsement of Paul.

 

[Natural Citizen]

In Judge Robert Pratt’s surprise decision, he said “political corruption is slowly eroding the foundations of our Democracy” and those who betray the public trust must be punished.

Political corruption, to be clear, is a consequence of acting/judging/legislating/reporting on the assumption that we are a Democracy. We're not. And this judge should know that.

This popularized language annoys me greatly. "...our democracy"...and I read/hear it placed into dialogue this way more and more these days. Particularly by people of authority.

He didn't say foundations of democracy. He said foundation of our democracy. Like it's our form of government. It isn't.

People like this judge are the problem. He's in dire need of re-education.

Anyway. I'll share the distinction for the benefit of the casual passer-by - An Important Distinction: Democracy versus Republic

 

[Natural Citizen]

Personally, I don't even see anything wrong with what he did.

Especially when we have congressmen being paid thousands of dollars to introduce industry penned legislation that would strategically void our most fundamental foundations for the rghts to life and Individual Liberty, like freedom of choice and things like that and without so much as a peep about it.

 

[asurfaholic]

I am a firm believer that elected officials should be held to a higher standard than mundanes. Therefore, I can justify sending Sorenson to prison while the others got probation.

I agree with this. In my post the "n" in "wouldn't" got a missed for a space, just in case my position isn't clear.

 

[asurfaholic]

Personally, I don't even see anything wrong with what he did.

Especially when we have congressmen being paid thousands of dollars to introduce industry penned legislation that would strategically void our most fundamental foundations for the rghts to life and Individual Liberty, like freedom of choice and things like that and without so much as a peep about it.

2 wrongs don't make a right, and even though it may seem like only the liberty candidate gets in trouble while certain others walk free, it is still a good thing to not compromise and let corruption make a foothold in liberty politics. I'd rather be above all the corruption, and not be a part of it.

 

[luctor-et-emergo]

I would also like to know how high up it went. I can't imagine Benton throwing around $73,000.00 without some approval from someone

Well, he was the campaign manager... They regularly received millions from moneybombs around the time this happened. I don't know about that approval thing that you mention.