A disgraced ex-Lengthy Island union boss was spared jail Tuesday, after President Donald Trump issued a last-minute pardon lower than 24 hours earlier than he was set to be sentenced.
James Callahan, a 65-year-old Lindenhurst native and former high labor chief of the Worldwide Union of Working Engineers, was set to be sentenced Wednesday by US District Choose Ana Reyes.
However on Tuesday, Callahan’s lawyer, David Schertler, notified Reyes that his consumer had obtained a “full and unconditional” pardon from the President, together with his sentence in a brief state of suspension till prosecutors file a proper request to dismiss the case, courtroom information present.
Schertler mentioned his consumer was “extremely grateful for President Donald Trump’s consideration and pardon and the opportunity to get back his life and his reputation after devoting over 40 years to the cause of organized labor and the members of the International Union of Operating Engineers and their families.”
Trump has to this point supplied no cause as to why he determined to problem a pardon for Callahan, who prosecutors had solely really useful a six-month jail sentence for.
“No MAGA left behind,” Trump’s pardon lawyer Ed Martin Jr. posted on X Monday because the President commuted a slew of sentences this week — nevertheless it’s unclear if Callahan matches that invoice.
There’s no document he ever supported or donated to Trump prior to now, and his union really backed each Joe Biden and Kamala Harris over Trump within the final election whereas he was nonetheless in cost, in line with information.
The choose, nevertheless, expressed that she was “quite disappointed” to be taught of Callahan’s pardon, noting he had accepted duty for his prison conduct, in line with a transcript of Wednesday’s listening to.
In January, Callahan pleaded responsible to failing to report over $315,000 he scored in tickets to video games, concert events, exhibits and different monetary perks from an organization that did enterprise together with his union.
As a part of the plea deal, Callahan — who prosecutors say has a web price of greater than $5 million — agreed to repay the union and step down as president.
“The Operating Engineers were unknowingly funding Defendant Callahan’s spree of pricey entertainments — a lifestyle his substantial salary could easily accommodate,” prosecutors wrote of their sentencing advice, calling him “one of the most powerful union leaders in the country.”
The Justice Division is now anticipated to file a movement to dismiss the case.
