A judge has sentenced a female defendant to one month in prison for stealing Ashley Biden’s diary, labeling her actions as “despicable.”
Aimee Harris received her sentencing on Tuesday from Judge Laura Taylor Swain in Manhattan. She has been sentenced to one month in prison and three months of home confinement. This comes after she was found guilty of stealing the diary of the president’s daughter during her stay at the president’s residence in Delray Beach, Florida, in September 2020. In addition to her prison term and home confinement, Harris will be placed on three years of probation, which includes the requirement of home detention.
In 2022, Harris admitted to the theft of the journal, along with tax records, a digital storage card filled with personal family photos, a cellphone, and other personal items. She collaborated with Robert Kurlander to transport these belongings across state lines.
According to a letter submitted by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, it is imperative that the defendant’s sentence considers the way in which she has manipulated the administration of justice during the course of this court case. The defendant has consistently resorted to tactics aimed at unjustly prolonging the proceedings. This includes providing the court with misleading information to justify untimely and undeserved requests for adjournments, disregarding directives to appear in court, and failing to comply with court orders regarding the disclosure or production of certain information.
In the courtroom, reporter Pete Brush revealed that Swain branded Harris’ behavior as “despicable” and “heinous.” The judge further emphasized that Harris’ actions were deliberate.
According to experts, Harris’ actions of repeatedly engaging in a back-and-forth with prosecutors and delaying court hearings demonstrate a clear disregard for the law and a lack of respect for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and Florida courts.
In her court plea, Harris mentioned her responsibilities to her children and family, expressing remorse and apologizing to Ashley Biden. She acknowledged the intense media scrutiny she has endured, empathizing with the pressures of being under constant public examination.
Harris and Kurlander each sold the journal for $20,000 to Project Veritas. However, Project Veritas declined to publish it as they were unable to verify its contents. James O’Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas, denied any wrongdoing in this matter.
The DOJ stated that Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign was offered to purchase the same journal, but they declined the offer.
Conservatives and Trump supporters online raised controversy surrounding the diary, questioning its authenticity as the daughter of Joe and Jill Biden’s diary.
The reason behind this was the absence of official confirmation that the diary actually belonged to her.
According to an article published by Snopes, a reputable fact-checking news site, in March 2023, there is strong evidence both from reporting and circumstantial sources indicating that the stolen diary is indeed Ashley Biden’s.
