I'm all for 'cleaning up' politics, but this is getting stupid!

[Peikko 1,575]

Link

Obama's Computer Chief Guilty of Theft in 1996

Serious stuff?

Vivek Kundra, now 34, pleaded guilty in Maryland District Court in Rockville to theft of less than $300 on Aug. 27, 1996. Maryland court records show he was sentenced to supervised probation, 80 hours of community service within the following six months and fined $500, of which $400 was suspended. He had to pay $155, including court costs.

Almost a year later, his attorney Gary L. Segal applied for reconsideration and got the disposition changed to "probation before judgment," which Segal said is technically not a conviction in Maryland.

Is this really something the public should be worried about, I mean, seriously?

[_Simpson_ 250]

Link

Obama's Computer Chief Guilty of Theft in 1996

Serious stuff?

Vivek Kundra, now 34, pleaded guilty in Maryland District Court in Rockville to theft of less than $300 on Aug. 27, 1996. Maryland court records show he was sentenced to supervised probation, 80 hours of community service within the following six months and fined $500, of which $400 was suspended. He had to pay $155, including court costs.

Almost a year later, his attorney Gary L. Segal applied for reconsideration and got the disposition changed to "probation before judgment," which Segal said is technically not a conviction in Maryland.

Is this really something the public should be worried about, I mean, seriously?

Of course not there is bigger and more valid stuff that we could call Obama out on.

[ikarus 1]

Is this the only qualified individual Obama could find for the job? Unfortunately, when you're in public office, you're up for scrutiny and more important people have gotten away with worst crimes! But then again it goes to show the mentality of today's world---arrest somebody for stealing 200 dollars, and compensate those that have stole billions!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Link

Obama's Computer Chief Guilty of Theft in 1996

Serious stuff?

Vivek Kundra, now 34, pleaded guilty in Maryland District Court in Rockville to theft of less than $300 on Aug. 27, 1996. Maryland court records show he was sentenced to supervised probation, 80 hours of community service within the following six months and fined $500, of which $400 was suspended. He had to pay $155, including court costs.

Almost a year later, his attorney Gary L. Segal applied for reconsideration and got the disposition changed to "probation before judgment," which Segal said is technically not a conviction in Maryland.

Is this really something the public should be worried about, I mean, seriously?

He would have a hard time getting the needed security clearance.

[Peikko 1,575]

Because of the criminal conviction? That's the thing though, it would seem that once the judge changed the disposition to 'probation before judgment' the conviction ceased to be one in terms of something that has to be declared.

Now, it could be that this is a case of a very clever hard nosed criminal who managed to screw the justice system. However, it seems far more likely that this whatever the crime was, it was rather minor and he learned from the mistake.

[EasyRider 3]

I like how all these people Obama has nominated or has hired to be in his administration have had problems or come under heavy scrutiny over past mistakes. Granted, tax evasion problems and the like are serious, especially considering our current financial situation. But theft of less than $300? what's interesting to me is how some of these people have been criticized for accepting nominations only to have to withdraw their acceptance while Cheney, Rumsfeld and Gonzalez, etc. were kind of just glanced over. LOL!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Because of the criminal conviction? That's the thing though, it would seem that once the judge changed the disposition to 'probation before judgment' the conviction ceased to be one in terms of something that has to be declared.

Now, it could be that this is a case of a very clever hard nosed criminal who managed to screw the justice system. However, it seems far more likely that this whatever the crime was, it was rather minor and he learned from the mistake.

When they do security clearances, all records are examined, even those "sealed by the court", including juvenile convictions, and your entire arrest record. School principals are found of saying, "Your permanent record will follow you for the rest of your life."

In government service, that's absolutely true.

Edited March 17, 2009 by Mister_Bill

[Sofiyya 1,687]

The FBI searched his office, two of his assistants have been arrested, and he has already resigned the post. The issues following this office must be bigger than it's being made out to be. But, hey, Obama's from Chicago; he knows lots of crooks. He'll find another one to take this guy's place.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

[Peikko 1,575]

Because of the criminal conviction? That's the thing though, it would seem that once the judge changed the disposition to 'probation before judgment' the conviction ceased to be one in terms of something that has to be declared.

Now, it could be that this is a case of a very clever hard nosed criminal who managed to screw the justice system. However, it seems far more likely that this whatever the crime was, it was rather minor and he learned from the mistake.

When they do security clearances, all records are examined, even those "sealed by the court", including juvenile convictions, and your entire arrest record. School principals are found of saying, "Your permanent record will follow you for the rest of your life."

In government service, that's absolutely true.

Which is fine, except I can't see how very many people are exempt from any mistakes. Seems utterly ludicrous to believe that would be true. I am not saying that everyone has a criminal past, far from it, but I am saying is should one really exclude someone like this if his current behaviour and qualifications make him a good fit for the job simply because someone somewhere wants to play party politics over the theory of 'squeaky cleanliness'?

Of course, if he is genuinely ineligible, that's a totally different kettle of fish.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Of course, if he is genuinely ineligible, that's a totally different kettle of fish.

It's terribly hard to be ineligible in this administration. They hired a tax cheat to run the IRS. That's like hiring the fox to run the hen house.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Link

Obama's Computer Chief Guilty of Theft in 1996

Serious stuff?

Vivek Kundra, now 34, pleaded guilty in Maryland District Court in Rockville to theft of less than $300 on Aug. 27, 1996. Maryland court records show he was sentenced to supervised probation, 80 hours of community service within the following six months and fined $500, of which $400 was suspended. He had to pay $155, including court costs.

Almost a year later, his attorney Gary L. Segal applied for reconsideration and got the disposition changed to "probation before judgment," which Segal said is technically not a conviction in Maryland.

Is this really something the public should be worried about, I mean, seriously?

Nope. But a history of theft would (not that he has a history).

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Because of the criminal conviction? That's the thing though, it would seem that once the judge changed the disposition to 'probation before judgment' the conviction ceased to be one in terms of something that has to be declared.

Now, it could be that this is a case of a very clever hard nosed criminal who managed to screw the justice system. However, it seems far more likely that this whatever the crime was, it was rather minor and he learned from the mistake.

When they do security clearances, all records are examined, even those "sealed by the court", including juvenile convictions, and your entire arrest record. School principals are found of saying, "Your permanent record will follow you for the rest of your life."

In government service, that's absolutely true.

Which is fine, except I can't see how very many people are exempt from any mistakes. Seems utterly ludicrous to believe that would be true. I am not saying that everyone has a criminal past, far from it, but I am saying is should one really exclude someone like this if his current behaviour and qualifications make him a good fit for the job simply because someone somewhere wants to play party politics over the theory of 'squeaky cleanliness'?

Of course, if he is genuinely ineligible, that's a totally different kettle of fish.

A lot depends on whether he was a political appointee, or a statutory employee. Even in the military, something you "forgot' to disclose shows up, and they call you on it. Some times it's "go" and sometimes, it's "go away". A lot depends on the higher up. Political employees get a little more latitude, but then, they often have more restricted access, something that pissed off the Clinton adminstration to no end. Many of his staff could not log into their own computers 7 months after they were appointed.

[Heracles 417]

Link

Obama's Computer Chief Guilty of Theft in 1996

Serious stuff?

Vivek Kundra, now 34, pleaded guilty in Maryland District Court in Rockville to theft of less than $300 on Aug. 27, 1996. Maryland court records show he was sentenced to supervised probation, 80 hours of community service within the following six months and fined $500, of which $400 was suspended. He had to pay $155, including court costs.

Almost a year later, his attorney Gary L. Segal applied for reconsideration and got the disposition changed to "probation before judgment," which Segal said is technically not a conviction in Maryland.

Is this really something the public should be worried about, I mean, seriously?

You must have missed the part:

"already on leave after an FBI raid at his old job"

that was big news here. As his entire office was raided.

Edited March 18, 2009 by Constellation

[I'm Gone 60]

while Cheney, Rumsfeld and Gonzalez, etc. were kind of just glanced over. LOL!

As I recall Cheney was elected, not nominated. Rumsfield had been around for a long time so if he had did something wrong it would have come out long ago. I think Gonzalez was a your my buddy appointment and he turned out not to be the best choice.

Edited March 18, 2009 by I Quit