Federal authorities are seeking between 10 and 16 months of prison time for conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza, saying his guilty plea to a campaign law violation warrants such punishment.
D’Souza, 53, admitted in May to giving money back to “straw donors” who each gave $10,000 to the failed Senate campaign of his childhood friend Wendy Long, Reuters reported.
Feds subsequently said prison time is justified because it serves as a deterrent to others and because D’Souza hardly appeared contrite.
“Based on the defendant’s own post-plea statements, the court should reject the defendant’s claims of contrition on the eve of sentencing,” prosecutors led by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara wrote in the court filing, Reuters reported.
Mr. Bharara was appointed by President Obama.
But D’Souza’s attorney said that claim is ridiculous.
“Any suggestion that Mr. D’Souza has not fully accepted responsibility for his conduct is patently absurd,” attorney Benjamin Brafman said, Reuters reported.
D’Souza, who faces a maximum prison sentence of two years, will be sentenced Sept. 23.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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