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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rosty’s Fall From Power Is Complete Ex-Lawmaker Sentenced After Pleading Guilty To Mail Fraud

Associated Press

Former U.S. Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, a once powerful House committee chairman, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of mail fraud and immediately was sentenced to 17 months in prison and fined $100,000.

The gruff former head of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee said the word “guilty” twice when U.S. District Judge Norma Holloway Johnson asked his pleas to the charges.

“You have brought a measure of disgrace” on Congress, Johnson lectured Rostenkowski before pronouncing his sentence. “You shamelessly abused your position. When I think of your case, … the one word or the one phrase that comes to my mind is ‘betrayal of trust.”’

After his sentencing, Rostenkowski, 68, read from a written statement that was defiant in tone. “I would like to emphasize that I have pled guilty to the least serious charges set forth in this indictment,” he said.

“Sometimes one person gets singled out to be held up by law enforcement as an example. I simply have to accept that and move forward with my life.”

But the Chicago Democrat admitted in his plea agreement that he had converted office funds to his own use for gifts such as armchairs and Lenox china. He admitted hiring people on the congressional payroll who did little or no official work - but took care of his lawn, took photographs at political events and family weddings, helped his family’s business and supervised renovation of his house.

Specifically, Rostenkowski admitted sending House payroll checks through the mail to his district office on Aug. 28, 1990, to pay employees who - the ex-lawmaker acknowledged - performed “personal or political service.”

He also admitted sending a check to Lenox China on Jan. 14, 1992, to pay for gifts for friends and cronies.

Despite his conviction, Rostenkowski will keep his annual pension, estimated last fall at $96,462 by the National Taxpayers Union.

He was charged in May 1994 with converting $636,600 in federal funds - and $56,267 in campaign funds - to his personal use.

Nearly two years ago, Rostenkowski rejected a possible deal that would have included a guilty plea to one false statement count, a six-month prison term and restitution of $38,000 to the government.

Rostenkowski, who lost his bid for a 19th term to a political novice, originally was charged with 17 criminal counts.

He was accused of mail fraud; conspiring to receive personal cash from the House Post Office; using official funds to pay employees who performed mainly personal work for him; using official funds to obtain armchairs, crystal, china and other items from a House supply store for personal use; and obstructing justice.

Last month, the judge dismissed charges that Rostenkowski lied to Congress about alleged schemes involving ghost employees on the payroll, personal purchases at the House stationery store, cash-for-stamps at the House Post Office and vehicle leases in his district.