Judge Refuses to Cut Biaggi Prison Term
Former Rep. Mario Biaggi lost a last-minute bid Wednesday to reduce his 2 1/2-year prison term, paving the way for his imprisonment next week on federal bribery charges.
“I cannot help you, congressman,” U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein told the weeping Biaggi in a Brooklyn courtroom. “I know it’s of no solace to you but your final contribution to public life may be as an example to other congressmen and public officials that they cannot violate the law and will be treated like everyone else.”
The 70-year-old former Democratic congressman from the Bronx is scheduled to surrender Monday to prison authorities in Ft. Worth.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
