Kyhatt says please don't lock up the Golden Goose

[saddawg]

aka Dickie Scruggs. Before you lock it, it's sports related. How much did OM count on having this guy backing them when they were signing O's Assistants to multi year contracts and hiring Nutt? What will it do to their bottom line?</p>

</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">The millions he contributed to the University of Mississippi are public knowledge. Several members of the Ole Miss community, including Chancellor Robert Khayat, wrote letters of praise - on university stationery, no less.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">"It is my belief that any time he spends being incarcerated is an absolute waste of a great deal of talent and ability," Khayat wrote. "He has much to offer society and is a public-spirited person."</p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Furthermore, it would appear to be a waste of taxpayers' money. Punishment is relative to the individual. A man such as Dick has been amply punished by the loss of his profession and his public stature."</span>

 

[saddawg]

aka Dickie Scruggs. Before you lock it, it's sports related. How much did OM count on having this guy backing them when they were signing O's Assistants to multi year contracts and hiring Nutt? What will it do to their bottom line?</p>

</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">The millions he contributed to the University of Mississippi are public knowledge. Several members of the Ole Miss community, including Chancellor Robert Khayat, wrote letters of praise - on university stationery, no less.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">"It is my belief that any time he spends being incarcerated is an absolute waste of a great deal of talent and ability," Khayat wrote. "He has much to offer society and is a public-spirited person."</p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Furthermore, it would appear to be a waste of taxpayers' money. Punishment is relative to the individual. A man such as Dick has been amply punished by the loss of his profession and his public stature."</span>

 

[saddawg]

aka Dickie Scruggs. Before you lock it, it's sports related. How much did OM count on having this guy backing them when they were signing O's Assistants to multi year contracts and hiring Nutt? What will it do to their bottom line?</p>

</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">The millions he contributed to the University of Mississippi are public knowledge. Several members of the Ole Miss community, including Chancellor Robert Khayat, wrote letters of praise - on university stationery, no less.</p> <p style="font-weight: bold;">"It is my belief that any time he spends being incarcerated is an absolute waste of a great deal of talent and ability," Khayat wrote. "He has much to offer society and is a public-spirited person."</p><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Furthermore, it would appear to be a waste of taxpayers' money. Punishment is relative to the individual. A man such as Dick has been amply punished by the loss of his profession and his public stature."</span>

 

[cowbell9]

what a pathetic display.

 

[RebelBruiser]

That's definitely a self-serving letter on Khayat's part. I'm pretty sure that even if Scruggs avoids jail time, he'll still be unable to practice law. However, keeping him out of jail would I'm sure help the university out. I can't speak to how much financial influence Scruggs had on athletics. I know it was significant, but I do know he isn't the only significant donor.

 

[MagnificentBastard]

The Chancellor of the only public law school in this state advocates no jail time for someone convicted of bribing a judge. Does the corruption of the legal system in this state extend to the education of attorneys.

 

[Shmuley]

for the sins of Bernie?

 

[patdog]

To some degree, Khayatt is condoning what Scruggs has done by writing this letter. That's unconscionable.</p>

 

[Stormrider81]

Boy, that makes me feel good about the direction of this country.

Dear Bob, the fact that Scruggs can "contribute to society" shouldn't release him from prison time. If a famous surgeon killed his wife, should he be able to avoid jail time because he could better serve society on the outside?

I'm also disagreeing with the whole "public-spirited person" bit. Scruggs is a self oriented person as always has been. His "service" to this state wasn't out of any need for public service or out of the goodness of his heart but rather was so he could build his personal wealth and public standing.

One also has to love the "he's been punished enough" line. No reason to throw him in jail, he's already been humiliated. There's a good lesson for our young people. Forget the law, let's just throw that out, after all it isn't important. The important thing is this guy has been humiliated and that should be enough punishment for him.

I find it quite sad that Kyhatt is advocating these things. I understand his personal reasons, but for him to abuse his public office for this, particularly when he is the chancellor of a university with a law school, is unethical in my eyes.

 

[Ole Miss Grad]

Check the records. Scruggs gave very, very little to Athletics.

Regardless of what he's done, he was a very generous man to several causes, many of which were anonymous.

Even USM's former president wrote a letter on his behalf.

 

[futaba.79]

about writing a letter of support for a buddy, and I'm sure Khayat and Scruggs are friends.

However, using University of Mississppi letterhead is very inappropriate.

 

[Stormrider81]

You are dead on about the U of M letterhead.</p>

 

[thunderclap]

is anyone really surprised to hear this crap from ol' Bobby K?

 

[MagnificentBastard]

I'm not blaming the law school for the sins of Scruggs. What I'm saying is that it is unbelievable that the CEO of the only public law school in this state doesn't believe that Scruggs shouldn't serve any jail time. That shouldn't be hard to understand.

 

[bonedaddy401]

the record may show that Scruggs didn't give that much to athletics, based on his past I would be more that willing to assume that most of his "contributions" are "off the record" in nature.

 

[Stormrider81]

though at least he wasn't in office at the time.

There's the thought process here that he should be excused from serving time, and one reason given is he is a so called generous person as far as philanthropy goes. I'm not going to speak ill of his giving to charity, as certainly that is a good act, but let me also make this observation. Jesus Christ once observed some rich people come and give much to the offering, and a poor widow came and gave all she had. He told those around him that the widow gave more because whereas the rich had much to give and did indeed give much, the widow had little to give but gave all she had. I'm glad Scruggs gave money to charity, but it wasn't as if he was taking bread off the table or having to cut his budget elsewhere to make up the difference. I would also argue that the rich have an obligation to give back. Regardless, giving back shouldn't be a valid reason for skirting punishment.

 

[futaba.79]

of generous, good-hearted people in prison. As a matter of fact, the low security prisons are full of decent people that didn't something really stupid. And Scruggs should join them for 24 - 36 months.

 

[Bulldog Backer]

The Chancellor of the only public law school in this state advocates no jail time for someone convicted of bribing a judge. Does the corruption of the legal system in this state extend to the education of attorneys.

...and, his letter of support essentially says the State of Mississippi should not punish to the extent of the law a white collar criminal who corrupted the State Judicial System. He says in that letter that those who put the legal system of the State of Mississippi up for sale shouldn't serve a just, fair sentence pounding rocks with Dontae Walker at Parchman. His legitimacy as Chancellor of the only State supported Law School should now be forever questioned. Then again, if Dickie gets off with probation, will he share his $100Million or so with Ole Miss?
</p>

 

[HammerOfTheDogs]

Dontae is doing 25 years for selling poison to a few people. Tricky Dickie got caught corrupting a whole legal system. He needs to do some time rooming with a 350 lb. axe murderer named Leroy, who thinks "Dickie" is a cute name.

</p>

 

[MSUCE99]

...so that he could give more money to give to the widows and orphans.

 

[Bulldog Backer]

Dontae is doing 25 years for selling poison to a few people. Tricky Dickie got caught corrupting a whole legal system. He needs to do some time rooming with a 350 lb. axe murderer named Leroy, who thinks "Dickie" is a cute name.

</p>

...you are exactly right. I actually hope he rooms with Dontae Walker or Richard Burch.
</p>

 

[lawdawg02]

he's just arguing in support of scruggs's petition to the court for leniency. scruggs is hoping to only get 30 months instead of the maximum 5 years. we're not talking about keeping someone out of jail who is facing a life sentence. just cutting a 5 year sentence down to 2 1/2. (unless you're reading khayat's actual letter somewhere, and it says otherwise) khayat and the others who wrote the letters are saying that scruggs is a man of character, who had one slip of conscience.

khayat and the others aren't necessarily condoning the activity (at least in their own eyes). ethically and professionally, i think he should have abstained from submitting a letter, given that he IS the chancellor of a state supported law school. he certainly should not have used school letterhead for such a letter.

that said, i don't think the sentence should be reduced. i also think biggers will give him close to the max, even though he's probably under a lot of pressure to cut the sentence significantly. scruggs is certainly going to lose his license to practice law, but he should also be punished criminally.

 

[Shmuley]

scruggs is a man of character, who had one slip of conscience.

... then Khayat should be medically tested for competency. There may not be three people involved in legal circles in the State of Mississippi who will agree that scruggs is a man of integrity.

 

[Shmuley]

Walker and Burch are inmates in the MDOC system? And that Dickster is on the way to the federal housgaw? Dick will be country clubbin in Yazoo with the feds.

 

[patdog]

Dickie has GOT to do time. And if he pled guilty to federal charges, he will do time.

 

[olemissbydamn]

Bobby Khayat is a very powerful person. You above all should know this, Backer.

This is the very man who you have claimed has kept a PLOI from the NCAA out of light for almost a decade. He evidently stalled long enough that the NCAA and you just forgot about it.

For the record....I disagree with him using university letterhead.

 

[gptdawg]

you gotta remember Bobby and Dickie go waaaaay back. Dickie hired Bobby's daddy right after as he got out of jail (by earning his money the OM way- stealing it--all right I admit that was a cheap shot) for jury consultation or some other BS on the 1st tobacco case. not to mention all the money Dickie has given/pledged to OM.

 

[Stormrider81]

</p>

 

[MSUCE99]

...this from the NEM Daily Journal:

<font face="Tahoma" size="2">Pete Boone, Ole Miss athletics
director:

"Judge Biggers, contrary to popular belief, Dick has never qualified the use of his jet or even asked the purpose of the trip. He has never recommended a head coach, but was simply there to support the administration's decision."</font>

My thoughts... this reads like the answer to an unasked question.

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=275395&pub=1&div=News

 

[patdog]

and hope that it blows over before they wind up as Dickie's next door neighbors. That'd be a hell of a role for Alec Baldwin to play in the sequel to Ghosts of Mississippi.

 

[TR.sixpack]

[No message]

 

[RebelBruiser]

the record may show that Scruggs didn't give that much to athletics, based on his past I would be more that willing to assume that most of his
"contributions" are "off the record" in nature.

</p>

What kind of sense would that make? Most wealthy people give a lot of money because they need to in order to get the tax breaks. If he gave money "off the record" he wouldn't get any tax breaks, so what would be the benefit of doing that?

 

[patdog]

The reason Bulldog Club and Rebel Club (or whatever the hell you call it) donations are tax deductible is because they're being used to fund scholarships.

 

[TBonewannabe]

I imagine he has bribed more than one judge but only got caught this once. The crazy thing is he got caught simply because he didn't want to pay another law firm for working on the insurance case. Pure greed.

 

[RebelBruiser]

I imagine he has bribed more than one judge but only got caught this once. The crazy thing is he got caught simply because he didn't want to pay another
law firm for working on the insurance case. Pure greed.

</p>

I agree. Saying Scruggs only had one slip up is like saying Sherrill only had one slip up.

 

[patdog]

That's why he pled guilty. He knew they had him by the short hairs on that one and he was desperate to stop the investigation. Bribing judges and juries was more the way he built his career than it was one slip up.

 

[MSUCE99]

bonedaddy401 wrote:

_________________________________________________ the record may show that Scruggs didn't give that much to athletics, based on his past I would be more that willing to assume that most of his
"contributions" are "off the record" in nature.

What kind of sense would that make? Most wealthy people give a lot of money because they need to in order to get the tax breaks. If he gave money "off the record" he wouldn't get any tax breaks, so what would be the benefit of doing that?

Did I miss where Scruggs was somehow able to get a tax break for the "off the record contribution" that he proposed to give to Judge Lackey? I think that's the kind of "contribution" he's hinting at here.

I am unaware of how to deduct bribes from your income tax statements. Perhaps a good (tax) lawyer could enlighten me.

 

[RebelBruiser]

bonedaddy401 wrote:

_________________________________________________
the record may show that Scruggs didn't give that much to athletics, based on his past I would be more that willing to assume that most of his

"contributions" are "off the record" in nature.

What kind of sense would that make? Most wealthy people give a lot of money because they need to in order to get the tax breaks. If he gave money "off
the record" he wouldn't get any tax breaks, so what would be the benefit of doing that?

Did I miss where Scruggs was somehow able to get a tax break for the "off the record contribution" that he proposed to give to Judge Lackey? I think
that's the kind of "contribution" he's hinting at here.

I am unaware of how to deduct bribes from your income tax statements. Perhaps a good (tax) lawyer could enlighten me.

</p>

Yea, of course it makes sense that bribes would be off the record, but what motivation would you have for making an off the record contribution to a university or its athletic department? That's why the comment was stupid. Unless you were just that genuine and wanted to remain anonymous, there is no reason you would need to hide the fact that you were giving money to a university. And I'm sure that even with anonymous donations, the university has a record of where they came from. Anonymous just means that they wouldn't make them public.

 

[lanceharbor7]

Dontae = black and poor = 25 years for riding in a car with drugs in it...

Dickie = white and priviledged = 5 years for bribing judges to rule in his favor bilking billions of dollars from private companies and their millions of shareholders while making hundreds of millions in the process.

Who says you can't buy justice!!! USA! USA! USA!

 

[RebelBruiser]

Dontae = black and poor = 25 years for riding in a car with drugs in it...

Dickie = white and priviledged = 5 years for bribing judges to rule in his favor bilking billions of dollars from private companies and their millions of
shareholders while making hundreds of millions in the process.

Who says you can't buy justice!!! USA! USA! USA!

</p>

I think that has less to do with race than it has to do with this whole "war on drugs" business that started up a while back.

Ever since that started, the punishments for drug charges became much more harsh. Hence, trafficing the ya-yo gets a much longer sentence than bribery. You could definitely argue that bribery is a worse offense, but the law in this country punishes coke dealers much more harshly than judge bribers.