Deaver’s Sentence

When called on the carpet to account for his dubious lobbying practices, former presidential aide Michael Deaver pulled a Dan White claiming an outside agent, in this case alcohol, made him forget (“Deaver Fined, Gets 3 Years’ Probation,” Part I, Sept. 24). Responsibility all the way to the bank until caught.

Even after U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson’s leniency, Deaver could not accept his culpability. “It was a very fair sentence, if I’d been guilty.” What do you expect from a guy who once flaunted his status as Washington’s hottest lobbyist by allowing a Time photographer to photograph him inside his limo with the White House serving as an appropriate backdrop? The only thing missing was a “for sale” sign on the lawn.

The message this sends to America? Hope you have friends in high places, make as much money as you can as fast as you can and try not to get caught, and if you do get busted make sure you have a judge who’s partial to the “Twinkie defense.”

Who says crime doesn’t pay? When Deaver asked for leniency, Judge Jackson should have just said “no.”

STEVEN C. WILLIAMS

Venice