Wanna know how record producer/cocaine smuggler John Forté got a presidential pardon, while his fellow prisoners must continue to languish in a Fort Dix, New Jersey, prison? Favors! Such huge favors from a labor-hating Mormon who wouldn't give a shit about Forté if he weren't friends with wealthy, famous white people like Carly Simon.
Here's the story:
[Orrin] Hatch - who wrote the country ballad "Are You Lonely Here With Me?" which Simon recorded - quickly got on board.
In 2005, the senator convinced the Justice Department to move Forté from a Pennsylvania prison to one at Fort Dix, NJ, just 25 minutes from his mom's home in New Brunswick.
Hatch also arranged for Forté to have his guitar with him in prison, a perk not afforded many inmates.
But the ultimate payoff from the unlikely pairing of Simon and Hatch came Monday with Bush's action, which means Forté can be freed Dec. 22.
Got it? The rich record producer lady let the rich politician guy make a song in her fancy music studio, and – VOILA – Forté's out. That's good old-fashioned American justice!
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What what was he supposed to do, tell his influential friends thanks but no thanks, I'll stay in prison?
Monie!!! Thanks a million for saying that because had my black a$$ been in prison….I wouldn't give a crap who freed me. People can say what they want, however, they would do the same thing if the shackles were on their feet.
carly simon's mom was black.
This is what people with wealthy and influence do for their family and friends (Scooter Libby got pardoned too).
Who doesn't use their connections?
Hopefully this will all bring to light the important need to do away with mandatory minimum sentencing–John Forte did something wrong one time and got caught–but the punishment did not fit the crime–Murders spend less time in jail than those convicted of drug related crimes
Well, it's unseemly, but traditionally so. It's what has always gone on. I see this as a step in the right direction for all the wrong reasons. We are now moving to a place in American society that we too can use the influence of our high powered friends to escape the law. It is progress. lol Let's begin the countdown the Bill O'Reilly outrage countdown…Now! Yeah, I know it's a Bush pardon/commutation, but somehow Fox News will find a way to pin it on Clinton,Obama and Rev. Wright.
Apparently there is no justice. Sure, break the law, go to jail. But on top of that there's the mandatory sentencing rules which are never just and also the possibilty that someone wielding power can just wave their wand and make it all go away. Neither are right.
@rjaye…
I never knew that until looking it up. She did have a certain appearance that I couldn't place my finger on…who woulda thunk it?
As far as this episode is concerned, that is to be expected given the current climate on this planet. Remember the war in Afghanistan? What happened to heroin production?
This sopmewhat indicates that the American justice is not as racist as we all think it is. The key factor seems to be money(=power) not skin color. I'm undecided whether this is a good thing or not.
Well, he was in jail for having a huge pile of coke. If Hollywood and Washington have anything in common it's that they both love huge piles of coke!