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Abramoff Sentenced to 4 Years

Corrupt lobbyist sentenced 3 years after guilty plea; he's already serving time

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2008 5:39 PM CDT

(Newser) – Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 4 years in prison today for his role in a massive corruption scandal that shook the upper echelons of Washington, the Post reports. The sentence means that Abramoff, who traded ritzy junkets and gifts for political favors, will remain in prison until 2012. He is currently serving 6 years in a separate Florida fraud case, though his lawyers are working to get that term reduced.

"I come before you as a broken man," Abramoff told the judge before sentencing. "I'm not the same man who happily and arrogantly engaged in a lifestyle of political and business corruption." He added, "It is hard to see the exact moment that I went over the line but, looking backwards, it is amazing for me to see how far I strayed and how I did not see it at the time."

[Images (4)]

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Jack Abramoff was sentenced to 4 years in prison today. (AP Photo)

William Heaton, a former Capitol Hill aide who helped convict a congressman in the Jack Abramoff scandal, smiles as he leaves U.S. District Court. (AP Photo/)

Rep. John Doolittle, R-Calif., also got burned by Abramoff. (AP Photo)

David Safavian, one victim of Abramoff's testimony. (AP Photo)

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I am sorry, so sorry, that I have put everyone through this. - Jack Abramoff

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Abramoff Sentenced to 4 Years