New York:
Conservative Indian-American author Dinesh D'Souza, who pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign laws, has asked a judge to sentence him to probation and community service instead of a prison term, saying he is "disgraced and humiliated" by his actions.
D'Souza, 53, had changed his plea to guilty in May this year to charges brought by Manhattan's top federal prosecutor India-born Preet Bharara that he made two close associates to contribute USD 10,000 each to the senate campaign of Republican Wendy Long in 2012 with the understanding that he would reimburse them for their contributions.
D'Souza admitted that he knew that what he was doing was wrong and something the law forbids.
The Mumbai-native faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison but according to his plea agreement with prosecutors, the advisory sentencing guidelines call for a term in the range of 10 to 16 months when he is sentenced on September 23.
Apart from being charged with one count of causing to make USD 20,000 in illegal campaign contributions to Long's campaign.
According to the Election Act, campaign contributions from any individual to any one candidate were limited to USD 5,000.
D'Souza was also charged with one count of making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in connection with the illegal campaign contributions.
In a 55-page sentencing memorandum submitted in federal court here yesterday, D'Souza asked the judge to sentence him to probation and not send him to jail since he is not a danger to the community and there is a "zero chance" that he would repeat such a behaviour.
He described himself as a "disgraced and humiliated" man who could "never have envisioned the situation" in which he now finds himself.
The memorandum also includes a letter from D'Souza in which he said he filled with a "sense of sheer frustration, exasperation and regret".
"I have already paid a price for this behaviour in having the FBI investigate me, having handcuffs behind my back and being exposed to public disgrace and embarrassment," D'Souza said.
"My credibility as a public figure who has consistently championed following the law has been questioned and I am the one who gave them fodder to do this," he said, adding that he has done wrong and deserves to be held accountable.
Seeking a probation sentence that includes community service, D'Souza said and the campaign law violation was a "completely abberant act" that he will not repeat and he is "ashamed and contrite" that it did happen.
D'Souza, who is also a best-selling conservative author, had come in for severe criticism for his 2012 documentary "2016: Obama's America", with the Obama campaign accusing him of launching a smear campaign against the President and alleging that the movie was a deliberate distortion of Obama's record and world view.
The documentary had equated reelection of Obama with the death and dismemberment of the US.