As you’re probably aware, it’s come to light that Andrew of the Smacked Gob was charged with possession of pot, and since it was at a national park, it was technically a federal, although misdemeanor offense. The presiding judge was not too happy with the special treatment Andrew got, specifically that a US Attorney stepped in to have his case dropped.
Now, Andrew would have had to pay a $125 fine for possession, but since he’s not a US citizen, that would potentially have played havoc with his immigration status. I certainly don’t want to see Andrew booted, but this is a rather extraordinary intervention. You can read the background, here.
Knowing Andrew as I do, though, I felt it important to go back to the date of the bust and find out what he’d said, since over the summer he’d ramped up his rhetoric about perhaps having to leave the country on principled grounds of its increasing Orwellianism. What I found is this:
13 Jul 2009 08:44 am
On AssignmentThat’s a rather racy way of saying I’m taking two weeks off blogging to work on an essay for the magazine (delayed by the Iran revolution) and get a little breather after an intense year. Patrick and Chris have no such luck; but they’ll be joined by two Conors, Clarke and Friedersdorf, both Atlantic alums. Be nice; email them lots; see you when I emerge from the longer-form writing.
Now, I don’t know whether that was before his bust, and this was all pre-planned, or whether he was busted in the wee hours trying to work up some inspiration. You know, The Atlantic can’t fire him, because that would have an adverse impact on his immigration status, and besides, he’s gay.
[...] Dan Collins questions the timing. [...]
Just more proof that some of the animals at the farm are more equal than the others…
I don’t want to see Sully deported necessarily; I just think he should get the usual and customary penalty…
Besides, he might enjoy some vacation time at the crossbar hotel and resort!
American Power tracked-back with, ‘Why Did Andrew Sullivan Get Special Treatment From the U.S. Attorney?’.
The Atlantic won’t fire him because, let’s face it, the owner and too many of the staffers need the pleasure that only Andrew can provide.
A Most Curious Development…
American citizens arrested on drug charges in national parks are invariably prosecuted in Massachusetts. So why was one prominent non-American given a pass on such charges? Political commentator, author and writer for The Atlantic magazine Andrew M. Su…
What?!? No fucking hat tip? You megalomaniac!! eleveny!!!
/
Just don’t ban me, ok?
I would have given you a hat tip, Pablo, but I’d been following it already. I was tracking down the date of the bust, so I could see what Andrew had posted at the time.
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