Page 27 - bon-dia-aruba-20220321

A27
u.s. news Dialuna 21 Maart 2022

Ousted Tennessee senator sentenced to probation for fraud

(AP) — A former Tennes- health care workers she start- perjury during her trial when
see state senator expelled ed running before she was she defended an email that
from office after a con- elected to public office. said money she used on her
viction for using federal wedding was for a commu-
grant money on wedding In July 2020, prosecutors ac- nity patient education event
expenses instead of the cused Robinson of paying and should be covered by
nursing school she oper- personal expenses from more grant money.
ates was sentenced Friday than $600,000 in federal
to a year of probation but grant money awarded to The After the hearing, Robinson
no prison time. Healthcare Institute, which told reporters that she felt
trains nurses and focuses on probation was appropriate
Katrina Robinson had faced helping low-income minor- and she plans to continue
four to 10 months in prison ity students. She was ulti- working in the community.
under sentencing guidelines mately convicted of only two
after she was found guilty in of 20 counts, involving about While she gets to avoid pris-
September of two counts of $3,400 in wedding expenses on, Robinson has already
wire fraud in Memphis fed- in 2016. paid a steep price, both to
eral court. But U.S. District ing she had shown “abject the coronavirus pandemic to her reputation and her fi-
Judge Sheryl H. Lipman de- Before the 27-5 vote to re- defiance of accepting any re- help care for sick patients in nances, said her lawyer, Law-
parted from the guidelines at move her from the Senate, sponsibility for her actions” hospitals. rence Laurenzi. Robinson
sentencing, saying Robinson Robinson, who is Black, ar- and had unfairly blamed rac- has struggled in securing a
had already suffered greatly gued that she had been un- ism for the charges. However, Lipman also scold- checking account, her retire-
and the Memphis commu- fairly judged by the white- ed Robinson for blaming the ment account has been seized
nity would gain no ben- majority body. She called During the sentencing hear- charges on “hot button is- by the federal government,
efit from prison time for the it a “procedural lynching,” ing, Robinson told the judge sues” such as race, although and she could lose her nurs-
nursing school administrator, prompting cheers of support that she understood the im- the judge did acknowledge ing license, the lawyer said.
community leader and moth- that the Republican speaker portance of her case and ac- past cases of racial injustice
er of two. gaveled down. Some of her knowledged that she did not in the court system. Lipman Laurenzi said he plans to ap-
supporters in the gallery were keep a “tight eye on things.” criticized Robinson’s sloppy peal the conviction.
Robinson, a Democrat, was in tears and others stood in record keeping and added
elected to represent a Mem- solidarity. Lipman, the judge, said she that Robinson failed to re- After Robinson’s expul-
phis district in the state Sen- read 57 letters of support spect the federal grant fund- sion from the Senate, the
ate in 2018. She was removed It was the first time the cham- for Robinson. Former stu- ed by taxpayers by not giving Shelby County Commission
from office last month by the ber had removed a senator dents and current employ- it proper attention. chose another Black woman,
Republican-led Senate in a since at least the Civil War. ees described her as a great Democratic state Rep. Lon-
vote along party lines. mother, nurturing educator, The judge gave Robinson don Lamar, to replace her.
On Friday, prosecutor Chris- inspiring community leader some advice. Commissioners will choose
The criminal case against topher Cotten asked the and dedicated nurse. Robin- Lamar’s replacement in the
Robinson involved federal judge to sentence Robinson son traveled outside Tennes- Lipman also ruled Friday that state House.
grant money for a school for to 10 months in prison, say- see during the early stages of Robinson had committed

State constitutional convention measures stoke partisan fear

(AP) — Simmering pub- vision, something opponents
lic anger in Alaska over consider dangerous in an
the legislature’s failure to era of deep partisan divides,
settle the state’s most ra- culture wars and campaigns
dioactive issue — how big fueled by deep-pocketed do-
a check residents should nors from out of state.
receive from the state’s oil
wealth fund — is collid- Talking about changing the
ing with a once-a-decade constitution is “like walking
opportunity for political around in a dynamite storage
activists: The chance for room with a lighter. You bet-
voters to call a convention ter know what you’re doing,”
to amend the state’s con- said John Coghill, a conser-
stitution. vative former state lawmaker
whose father was one of the
The frustration over the delegates to Alaska’s original
long-festering oil check ques- constitutional convention.
tion is providing a tail wind
for groups seeking to change Alaska is one of three states
the constitution to address a where voters will decide this
range of hot button topics, fall whether to call a conven-
such as restricting abortion tion to consider amendments
and altering the process for to their constitution. The
selecting judges in a way that question has gained little at- tions called by voters have making it to the ballot. Vot-
opponents say could make tention in Missouri and has In all, 14 states are required to become increasingly rare. ers approved six, including
the process more partisan. generated only mild interest hold periodic elections asking More than 30 such ballot measures that required the
so far in New Hampshire, voters whether to convene questions have failed since legislature to meet annually
This year’s political turbu- where a group opposed to a constitutional convention. Rhode Island voters last au- instead of every other year
lence could turn what is COVID-19 mandates and re- Delegates typically have free thorized one in 1984. and ensuring polling places
usually an overlooked ballot strictions has discussed start- reign to propose revisions — would be accessible to dis-
question into a high-stakes ing a campaign to advocate or even entirely new consti- Voters in New Hampshire abled voters.
fight over the direction of the for a convention. That group, tutions — that would then go haven’t authorized one since
state. A convention would Rebuild NH, hasn’t yet said back to voters for ratification. 1982. Delegates at that gath- The country is more divided
open Alaska’s foundational what amendments it might ering debated more than today.
document to any type of re- favor. State constitutional conven- 100 amendments, with 10