Eric Holder Style Justice Update: Ex-Daley deputy chief of staff gets probation for charity theft

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Former Mayor Richard M. Daley’s deputy chief of staff was spared a prison term Thursday for stealing nearly $100,000 from a Chinatown charity.

Gene Lee — a 65-year-old Chinatown leader who for years was an aide to Daley — was instead sentenced to five years probation by U.S. District Judge John Darrah, who said Lee’s 40 years of devoted community service counted in his favor.

Dozens of Chinatown residents who’d packed Darrah’s courtroom to show their support for Lee erupted in cheers and applause as the sentence was announced, prompting a stern rebuke from the judge.

Lee himself had bowed to the judge and each corner of the courtroom in a traditional show of respect and contrition before apologizing for the thefts he said had caused him “guilt and shame and my public humility.”

He plead guilty to embezzlement and tax fraud in April, admitting that he cashed 161 large charity checks at a Chinatown restaurant then kept part of the money for himself.

Dinesh D'Douza eat your heart out! No word yet on this story from Jon Corzine. Even Robert Creamer, who is Jan Schakowksy's husband, must be stunned with the outcome. "161 large charity" checks and no jail time for this prominent Democrat. Amazing.