When I found out... that I... had been accepting... gifts... from lobbiests... well, I was furious. Furious! This is exactly the sort of thing I promised myself, my family, and my constituents, that I would never do! I can't begin to tell you how absolutely over-the-top pissed I was. I took immediate action. I fired off urgent memos to myself, my staff, my advisors, my accoutants, and my attorneys, and laid down the law. That's it! No more! I am hereby swearing off... swearing off, do you hear me?! any... further... gifts of this type, of this sort, of this nature... for the remainder of my time as an elected official! No ifs ands or buts, you got that straight?
Judge, I swear I didn’t do it, and I promise I’ll never do it again!