“During the sentencing hearing, Berman read from a letter submitted to the court by D’Souza’s former wife. In the missive, Suzie D’Souza alleged that her ex-spouse forged her signature on one campaign contribution form, and that he had an “abusive nature.” D’Souza, who was married to the defendant for 20 years, wrote, “In one instance, it was my husband who physically abused me in April 2012 when he, using his purple belt karate skills, kicked me in the head and shoulder, knocking me to the ground and creating injuries that pain me to this day.”
In May, on the eve of trial, D’Souza pleaded guilty to illegally arranging $20,000 in straw donations to the 2012 U.S. Senate campaign of Wendy Long, a New York Republican who was challenging incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.
The 53-year-old D’Souza, a close friend of Long, personally reimbursed the straw donors, effectively allowing him to exceed the $5000 limit for individual donors. According to a probation report, D’Souza’s net worth is in excess of $5 million.”
I'd like to know whether the ex-wife brought up any of these charges before this hearing. Did she bring the charges up in her divorce? He just doesn't seem like a violent man. I'd have to have more proof than an ex-wife’s statement to believe the charges she is making.
He sounds like a NFL player.
That term makes the accusation of spousal abuse so much more credible.
Yeah, that and...did he just become violent in the last year of their marriage?!
Sound’s like a Jack Ryan’s wife payoff to me, circa 2006.
[ From the aticle:
“During the sentencing hearing, Berman read from a letter submitted to the court by D’Souza’s former wife. In the missive, Suzie D’Souza alleged that her ex-spouse forged her signature on one campaign contribution form, and that he had an “abusive nature.” D’Souza, who was married to the defendant for 20 years, wrote, “In one instance, it was my husband who physically abused me in April 2012 when he, using his purple belt karate skills, kicked me in the head and shoulder, knocking me to the ground and creating injuries that pain me to this day.”
In May, on the eve of trial, D’Souza pleaded guilty to illegally arranging $20,000 in straw donations to the 2012 U.S. Senate campaign of Wendy Long, a New York Republican who was challenging incumbent Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand.
The 53-year-old D’Souza, a close friend of Long, personally reimbursed the straw donors, effectively allowing him to exceed the $5000 limit for individual donors. According to a probation report, D’Souza’s net worth is in excess of $5 million.”
I’d like to know whether the ex-wife brought up any of these charges before this hearing. Did she bring the charges up in her divorce? He just doesn’t seem like a violent man. I’d have to have more proof than an ex-wife’s statement to believe the charges she is making. ]
How in the hell can the evidence/testimony from a case that is still in the courts be used as criterea for sentencing in a case involving totally different laws that were supposedly broken? Sounds like a HUGE case of mis-justice and furthering of an agenda via controlling the narrative and smearing someone’s character using accusations in a ongoing trial not yet settled...
I'm usually the first to side with an abused wife; but I'd have to agree with you here. If he did use his "purple belt" skills on her, it could have been self-defense. He is not a beefy guy.