Judge Expresses Sympathy With Criticism of Government, Imposes Minimum Sentence

Leah’s Trial Ends in Victory for the People’s Democracy

In its press release, Veterans For Peace, announced, “Retired Naval Commander Leah Bolger pled guilty to the charge of Unlawful Conduct — Disruption of Congress at a hearing before Judge Stuart Nash in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia Thursday, April 12^th 2012.”

Leah Bolger

“Though the maximum penalty for this infraction is 6 months in jail and/or a $750 fine, Judge Nash sentenced Bolger to 60 days incarceration and suspended that sentence.  He also required her to make a $50 payment to a victims of crime fund and to perform 20 hours of community service, which Bolger will perform by working 20 hours for Veterans for Peace.  She is on probation for nine months and faces the risk of having the 60-day sentence imposed, but says she is committed to continuing to speak out and protest, including when NATO comes to Chicago in May.”

“Judge Nash said twice that he sympathized with Bolger’s criticism of the government.  She [Leah] had asked the Super Committee to stop ignoring the public’s demand that wars be ended, military spending be reduced, and the rich be taxed.”

Read the full text of the press release, with comments by her supporters, Thom Hartmann, Ben Cohen, Michael Moore and Ralph Nader.

Update, Apr. 15:  Here’s a short (<3 min) phone interview Leah did with PressTV and the accompanying article on their web site.

Update, Apr. 21:  The text of Leah’s statement to the judge during the trial posted exclusively at OpEdNews.  And Kevin Zeese’s statement in support, also posted at OpEdNews.