NY Republican uses gun control as reason to stay out of jail

[Wolfie]

ALBANY - As he tries to avoid a prison sentence, convicted former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos is pointing to the SAFE Act as evidence of his political courage.

In a 45-page sentencing memo filed Wednesday, Skelos' attorney G. Robert Gage urged U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood to opt against sending the Nassau County Republican to prison, arguing that Skelos' fraud conviction was a "complete aberration in an otherwise extraordinary and honorable record of service."

As part of his bid for leniency, Gage pointed to Skelos' "most notable legislative achievements" -- including the SAFE Act, the politically contentious series of gun-control laws passed in 2013. He recommended a sentence of 4,160 hours of community service rather than jail time.

"During his tenure, he sponsored and ushered in landmark legislation in a variety of areas of public concern," Gage wrote. "He did so without fear or favor of the potential political consequences."

A lawmaker for 34 years, Skelos was convicted last year of bribery, extortion and fraud as part of three separate schemes to enrich his son by using his official capacity to his advantage.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara's office is likely to recommend a prison term when it makes its sentencing pitch early next month. Skelos is scheduled for sentencing April 13.

Skelos played a key role in the passage of the SAFE Act, which included a broader ban on assault weapons and tougher penalties for illegal gun possession. It also limited the number of bullets in a magazine to seven, but that provision was struck down in court.

Then the Senate majority leader, Skelos allowed the bill to a floor for a vote, where it passed with votes from Democrats and a handful of Republicans on Long Island, including Skelos.

The SAFE Act is opposed by conservatives and groups representing firearms owners, particularly those upstate, who were frequently critical of Skelos' decision and paint him as a traitor.

"We want to tell Dean Skelos: Go home," Buffalo businessman Carl Paladino, the 2010 GOP candidate for governor, said at a 2013 rally against the SAFE Act. "Get another vocation. Go work at the car wash. Get the hell out of here."

Gage's sentencing memo included a quote from a letter written by Paul Weidenbaum, an attorney and Skelos ally who said the lawmaker was "instrumental" in passing the SAFE Act.

"He did so over the strong opposition of the natural constituency of his party, based upon their firmly held beliefs, because he believed that shepherding the bill to passage was the right thing to do for the people of New York State," Weidenbaum wrote.

Among the other accomplishments Gage pointed to were a string of on-time budgets while Skelos was in charge, a middle-class tax cut passed in 2011 and "spearheading women's rights initiatives, including the Women's Equality Act."

The Women's Equality Act, a series of laws passed last year, had been tied up in a legislative squabble between Assembly Democrats and Senate Republicans for two years. The two sides disagreed on a measure that would have strengthened New York's abortion laws, which the GOP opposed.

Ultimately, the act was split into separate bills, with the Senate approving all of them expect the abortion provision, which was never put to a vote.

[Mr. AR50]

Another crooked politician headed to prison. This one happens to be a RINO who believes in depriving law abiding citizens of the ability to defend themselves. Karma's a bitch

[Charlie_Zulu]

[4949shooter]

Lol Charlie Zulu that is great!