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Judge denies Shkreli's "delusional self-aggrandizing" plea to get out of jail
A federal judge on Saturday denied Martin Shkreli's request for a "compassionate release" from prison, which was pitched as a way to protect him from contracting the new coronavirus—and to help him work on a cure for COVID-19 so he could save the rest of the world.
Lawyers for the infamous ex-pharmaceutical executive filed an emergency motion April 22 in a bid to free him from the slammer. They argued that Shkreli is at high risk of contracting the virus in the close quarters of federal prison and could possibly become severely ill or die. They also argued that he is in a unique position to work on a cure for the devastating viral illness now sweeping the globe. Shkreli himself publicly made that claim in early April via a scientific document outlining his preliminary efforts to develop an antiviral drug.
In the emergency motion, his lawyers argued that "Current conditions of confinement threaten his health and life and prevent him from doing work that would contribute to the betterment of society worldwide."
Though Shkreli is best known for ruthlessly jacking up the price of a lifesaving generic drug, he is serving an 84-month sentence following his 2017 conviction on two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiring to commit securities fraud. The charges were in connection with an alleged Ponzi-like scheme involving two hedge funds he previously managed and his former pharmaceutical company, Retrophin. He has served 41 months of his sentence so far.
[...] [federal prosecutors] also noted that, at the time of their court filing, there were no cases of COVID-19 in staff or inmates at the facility in which Shkreli is being held, FCI Allenwood Low.
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 19 2020, @09:19PM (36 children)
Rapey McWiferaper gets out on bail because of coronavirus dangers.... I don't even wanna look up his name, campaign chief for Trump? Ick
(Score: 1, Troll) by khallow on Tuesday May 19 2020, @09:52PM (35 children)
It's interesting how quickly this case turned around once Flynn picked up good legal representation (he picked up new lawyer Sydney Powell in mid-2019). Basically, he pleads guilty in early 2019, fires his former defense team a few months later, gets a new lawyer who has to start from scratch to protect her client and dig him out of the hole that his guilty plea put him in, and is a free man a year later.
That indicates to me that not only was the case against him remarkably flimsy and corrupt, but his previous defense attorneys were either very incompetent or colluding with the prosecutors. Flynn has made allegations [thegatewaypundit.com] that if true, seem to indicate such collusion. For example, in an early meeting asking Flynn if he "had anything" on Trump, claiming it would help strengthen their case against the government if he did. He also claims they also pressured him into agreeing to a plea bargain, claiming that he and his son would be subject to prosecution for multiple felonies and withheld important information from him (such as FBI agents at the interview in question believing he was telling the truth).
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday May 19 2020, @10:30PM (14 children)
> It's interesting how quickly this case turned around once Trump dangled a pardon
FTFY dipshit
(Score: 1, Informative) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @02:08AM (13 children)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:08AM (8 children)
Could it be, Treason? In like Flynn! Russian operative. The man confessed. Now, if he claims he was lying about lying to the Feds, he was still lying. So guilty as charged, and confessed.
(Score: 1, Disagree) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:34AM (2 children)
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @09:36AM (1 child)
"Confess, or do not. There is no unconfess." Yoda, you pathetic libertariantard impersonating an actual lawyer! If he "unconfesses" he opens himself up to charges of perjury, and we know how much Republicans like that charge. And, if he wasn't lying, he actually was collaborating with the Russians to get an imbecile into the White House to destroy America? You know, that there, that's illegal, too. No marmots in the city limits, Dude.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:32PM
For what? A plea bargain isn't made under oath.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday May 20 2020, @02:06PM (4 children)
Yes, treason. Treasonous bastards working overtime to make America believe that it's president belongs to Russia. Treason by the FBI, along with mainstream media. And, don't forget the DNC. They were working to impeach the Trump before he was even sworn in, FFS.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:02PM
Lol, sure pal, reality isn't real, take that red pill and listen to some more fascist propaganda. Your fascist coup is incredibly transparent, gotta love Trump attacking democracy now. Doesn't want mail in ballots because then they can't cheat the election again.
Deep down you know this is true which is why we've had 3+ years of "she lost get over it" nonsense and attempts to explain why people underwhelmingly voted for Trump. Even with voting machine fraud Trump still lost the popular vote.
If only you had the mental fortitude to see that you're supporting fascism. Ah well, see you on the battlefield ya worthless blob.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @06:18PM (2 children)
No. Not treason.
18 USC 2831
[quote]Whoever, owing allegiance to the United States, levies war against them or adheres to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort within the United States or elsewhere, is guilty of treason and shall suffer death, or shall be imprisoned not less than five years and fined under this title but not less than $10,000; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.[/quote]
None of the things you imply come close to that. Unlike actions Trump has taken, such as the Syrian pullout, use of the Office of the President of the United States for diplomatic leverage to favor his campaign, the systematic undermining of Inspectors General because it may be damaging to his personal image, directly lying to the American public about Coronavirus and making misleading scientific statements, and his complete inability to separate himself from the American State (acting as a ideologic demigod), his enmeshment with Russia at the expense of relations with actual allies of the U.S. … Let's just say that adherence to the enemies of the United States is exactly what Donald Trump has been doing, OK?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday May 20 2020, @11:43PM (1 child)
Enemies, foreign and domestic. The DNC is a domestic enemy of the United States.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 21 2020, @03:02AM
Awww, Runaway I thought you'd gotten past your suspiciously Russian shill behavior, but I guess you're trying the ol' faithful method of GOP gaslighting.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by ilPapa on Wednesday May 20 2020, @05:00AM (3 children)
So then why not release the tapes of the Flynn/Kislyak phone calls? All of them?
And most of all, why did Flynn, 1) lie to the FBI and 2) perjure himself in court? Both of those are crimes that you or I would get put away for. Why should Flynn be treated differently than any other US criminal?
You are still welcome on my lawn.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @05:55AM (2 children)
I see several reasons. First, they're diplomatic conversations between the Russian ambassador and an incoming Trump administration official. Second, they might have information in them that reveals something of US intelligence gathering capabilities to the Russians or intelligence organizations. OTOH, Judge Sullivan who is overseeing the case supposedly had at one point ordered them made public subject to possible redaction - presumably, an informed decision.
(Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:06PM (1 child)
Lol, what a fucking worm you are. Guess it was only a matter of time until you finally broke the "calm and rat-ional" approach. It is quite effective psychologically, but ultimately without substance it fails as you've seen. Now you're finally letting the mask slip, I wonder what got to you. The refutations of the fake news you desperately want to believe???
Perhaps it is the corruption and lies finally reaching the breaking point of your capacity to suspend disbelief? The sub-conscious dam is breaking?
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:31PM
(Score: 1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @12:12AM (19 children)
He plead guilty, and you think it was a frame job? Truly you are the spectacle of absolute stupidity around here. You're making TMB look downright reasonable!
(Score: 0, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @01:38AM
Hey Einstein, let me school you on US law. There's a thing called "plea bargaining". https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/plea_bargain [cornell.edu]
Since your Covid-19 addled microbrain won't comprehend that concept, I'll 'splain: in USA, the legal system is NOT about right and wrong. Generally if you're accused of something, 99.999% of people are sure you're guilty, and you're burnt toast. The remaining 0.001% try their best through an initiative called "The Innocence Project" https://www.innocenceproject.org/ [innocenceproject.org] Of course they're overwhelmed at best, and generally focus on Death Penalty cases.
If you plead "not guilty" because you're innocent, but can't mount an amazing and extremely expensive defense, you get the maximum sentence. Most attorneys advise their clients to take the sure thing of the lesser sentence offered in the plea bargain agreement. This might help you with that concept: https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=20/05/19/0316235 [soylentnews.org]
Oh, and BTW, plea bargains come with many strings attached, including a very short time-frame, preventing the innocent accused from mounting a defense.
(Score: 1, Troll) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @02:10AM (16 children)
He's free now and there's all this evidence of shenanigans on the FBI side. Sure looks like a frame job to me.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:13AM
Sure it does, khallow! But that is only because you have aspirations of sucking up to richies, and Republicans in general. You could be making a serious mistake. Russian oligarchs don't mess around, khallow.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:30AM (10 children)
Hehehehe, no wonder you're so wacked. Reading news sources like that. Pure conspiracy click bait elevating the desperate arguments of Flynn's lawyers into supposed news article.
I've read similar type of articles from left wing outlets so this isn't a partisan attack.
Here is a less ranty take https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/12/16/michael-flynn-judge-rejects-claims-fbi-doj-framed-him/2667201001/ [usatoday.com]
and another
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/01/29/probation-appropriate-sentence-michael-flynn-feds-say/4616301002/ [usatoday.com]
My favorite bit -
So Flynn fired Powell, and he supposedly couldn't remember discussing sanctions with a Russian diplomat. So strange how so many around Trump get convicted of crimes and can't remember details from their VERY important meetings with foreign agents. If Flynn or Pompeo was working for Obama you'd be howling for blood over "can't remember" regarding issues of national security.
But ok Mr. Rational, keep telling us how logical you are, how you only follow facts, or whatever nonsense you want to excuse yourself with. I'm guessing you don't even realize Trump is a racist :D
(Score: 0, Offtopic) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:55AM (9 children)
The judge may be taken off [sidneypowell.com] the case for those ridiculous remarks too. After all, even if every was as the FBI claimed, Flynn didn't sell anyone out. That's fantasy added by the judge after the fact. We'll see, but looks like I was premature [sidneypowell.com] about Flynn being out of the woods.
(Formating issues with the PDF copy/paste.) On something you wrote:
Another defense point here is that the details that couldn't be remembered weren't material to any FBI investigations ("The Government acknowledged that General Flynn’s statements to the FBI were not material to a legitimate investigation"). There's so much wrong here.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @06:15AM (8 children)
He sold out his country, violated his oath as an officer of the USofA military. The man is the lowest kind of scumsucking lime lizard. He needs to be executed, or electradicted, or exfibrillated. I think he is suffering from early onset conservative mind loss. And, of course, the obvious implication is, that he betrays all humanity by selling out his own country to the corrupt grifter Trump, and his Ruskie "friends". Enemy of humanity. Not a nice person. Un-American.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @07:37AM (6 children)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @09:38AM (5 children)
He confessed? Without being tortured by the CIA? Pretty damning evidence, if you are not suffering from TDS.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @03:30PM (4 children)
The story is that he and his son were looking at multiple felonies, if he didn't plead guilty. Plea bargaining is a thing.
But it doesn't distinguish between innocence and guilt, thus isn't evidence.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:12PM (3 children)
Gotta love how flimsy evidence is when it is your team on the block, but you were happy to witch hunt Hillary and Biden. Of course when their investigations came up with nothing you STILL believe they are guilty and the DEEP STATE is to blame. Seriously, time to take your meds.
If you had a spine you'sd be demanding to see all the evidence, but again when it is your team you're MORE THAN HAPPY to accept excuses for why we can't see it. READ THE REPORT NOT THE MEMO :D :D :D
(Score: 2, Interesting) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:37PM (2 children)
Back at you on that one. The only evidence for Flynn's alleged guilt is this plea bargain for the crime of lying to FBI agents. Since it's been taken back, it's no longer evidence, as far as I'm concerned. Threatening the defendant with a much longer sentence, if they don't plead guilty, is a little classier than beating up the suspect for said confession, but it has the same credibility.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 21 2020, @08:22PM (1 child)
Mental gymnastics, if only they actually improved your brain. I'm tired of every bit of evidence getting dismissed as hearsay. These criminals aren't breaking into a bank, they are communicating with foreign agents to further their corruption and make treasonous deals. He lied to FBI agents, that is a crime and it is not being disputed, yet you and the other propaganda outlets keep trying to spin it as the "deep state" or "bbbut Obama" as if that changes the fact. Lying was his choice, and no amount of hand wringing is going to change that or make it anyone's fault but his own.
The best bit is how the spin tries to accuse Obama, who as far as all the actual evidence shows did not get involved with the Flynn investigation, while Trump is actively interfering in every investigation relating to himself or anyone related to his admin/campaign. You have no honor, no integrity, and you should feel deep shame in falling for these lies and mind games.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday May 22 2020, @08:15PM
Some of it isn't even hearsay. The FBI apparently fabricated some statements by Flynn with the Flynn interview transcript, for example.
Moving on, you wrote:
Show evidence then. I'll just note that bald assertions don't even rise to the standard of hearsay.
What does "involved" mean here? For example, this [usatoday.com] indicates some degree of involvement.
Conveniently enough, after that meeting Comey indeed did not share said information with Flynn and the interrogation of Flynn, which was misrepresented by the FBI as being routine, occurred around January 20 and 21, 2017. The email doesn't support Obama planning the events directly (but of course, not evidence against that either), but he was informed ahead of time giving him opportunity to be more involved than he already was.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 20 2020, @02:13PM
Why would you lie to us like that, Aristarchus?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:50PM (3 children)
Not yet he's not.
If you need to lie about the basic facts of the case then why should we trust any of your other statements?
(Score: 1) by khallow on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:52PM (2 children)
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 21 2020, @03:06AM (1 child)
If only your integrity extended to your critical thinking skills. So far you're willing to believe proven liars and deny facts. George Carlin would be proud, right up until he found out your jokes were serious.
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday May 21 2020, @03:26AM
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday May 20 2020, @04:46PM
Correction: He plead guilty TWICE!
The move came after Flynn had twice pleaded guilty to charges of lying to the Federal Bureau of Investigation about his conversations with a Russian diplomat during the presidential transition in late 2016. [stanford.edu]