We thought we would point out that Rickenbacker was in the news. Again.
CQ Politics: "Among the promises the Democrats made when they won control of Congress two years ago was to clean up Washington following a series of GOP bribery and influence peddling scandals. Now Republican officials in South Carolina say the No. 3 Democrat in the House — Majority Whip James E. Clyburn — is proving his party to be hypocritical by hiring as a district caseworker a long-time friend convicted of public corruption."
Dec 20, 2006 - John Rickenbacker, 54, assistant principal of Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School and Orangeburg County Council Chairman, pleaded guilty to bribery and extortion charges.
After receiving word of the indictment in June, Gov. Mark Sanford suspended Rickenbacker from his County Council seat. Rickenbacker, who earns $67,190 a year as assistant principal of Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School, was suspended with pay on July 31.
Amazingly, Rickenbacker won re-election in November despite the June indictment.
Mar 28, 2007 - Rickenbacker is due to be sentenced in U.S. District Court on Monday. The newspaper reports that he admits he did wrong in taking a bribe but says he should only get probation because of the good he’s done in the past.
Rickenbacker pleaded guilty to one count of bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds and one count of extortion under color of official right. The maximum penalty on the bribery charge is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine and, on the extortion charge, 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.The motion to ask the judge to ignore sentencing guidelines, says Rickenbacker has a history of good character and helping others, and “two former governors, two current university presidents, a United States congressman, a retired Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court and many of his former constiuents” have written letters on Rickenbacker’s behalf.
Because of the complexity of federal sentencing guidelines, it can take several months to sentence someone who has been found guilty of a crime. Johnson says the judge can give Rickenbacker a sentence lower than the recommended one.
SENTENCED Apr 2 - Rickenbacker was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, a $5,000 fine, a $200 fee and three years probation.
The judge said the testimony and dozens of letters from Rickenbacker's supporters helped convince her he deserved leniency. She noted that he is the primary care giver for his ailing 86-year-old mother, did not have a criminal record and already paid back the money.
TT - And now we know John had friends in VERRRY high places.
