Text of Martha Stewart's statement

[Maddy McCall]

The Associated Press

March 5, 2004


The following is the text of Martha Stewart's statement after being convicted:

Dear Friends:

I am obviously distressed by the jury's verdict but I continue to take comfort in knowing that I have done nothing wrong and that I have the enduring support of my family and friends.

I will appeal the verdict and continue to fight to clear my name.

I believe in the fairness of the judicial system and remain confident that I will ultimately prevail.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement I have received from thousands of supporters.

It is your continued support that will keep me going until I am completely exonerated.

Sincerely, Martha Stewart


http://www.newsday.com/business/nyc-marthatext,0,235738.story?coll=ny-business-headlines
*******************************************
Just on MSNBC, a juror said: maybe it is a victory for the little guy who loses money in the market, thanks to these kinds of transactions.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. Sad as it is, Martha needed to take one for the team.

I hope they settle it with a fine, and then let us go after the real abusers of the system. She will be used as precedent. If you can't go easy on Martha Stewart, then no one who abused stocks should go free either. It's the only way to break those networks that manage to find a way around tight regulations.

[Warpy]

7. The purpose of this dog and pony show

...was to take the heat of the Bush justice department and their foot-dragging in the Enron fiasco. I can't think of any other time when such a massive fraud went so long without all the major players being marched off to jail and denied reasonable bail since they were flight risks.

She may or may not be guilty of using insider information, but that isn't what she was charged with. This whole thing should have resulted in a hearing before the SEC, followed by a fine (or not). The whole thing is such small potatoes in the face of the frauds formerly known as Enron and World Com that it is obviously a show trial, meant to divert attention from the absolute lack of interest of the Bush team in prosecuting Bush buddies.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. Precedent is an important factor.

How easy do you think it's going to be for Ken Lay now that they've prosecuted Martha Stewart? I think the other shoe has dropped. And now nothing stands in the way. Kenny boy is next.

[xchrom]

12. ken lay could have set the precedent.

no one needed this show for that.
it's unreasonable that ken lay is still walking around except that he's george's boy.
stewart on the other hand was a friend of the clintons.

[Manix]

2. When Bush and Cheney are marched off in handcuffs is when I'll

celebrate.

[dand]

3. She's rich enough to appeal......

until our sun is a cold cinder

[leesa]

4. She should switch to the GOP party, she would be exonerated in a

heartbeat. Why isn't Ken Lay in jail....he's the reason we went to war in Afghanistan, he was one of the architects of the California energy swindle and he ripped off all his investors. But he's GOP filth, so above the law.

[catzies]

5. This little gal who lost money in shares of Martha's own company

is over it.

But this CALIFORNIAN who was gouged by Enron in 2001 and wants Ken Lay's head on a stick is NOT.

[LSparkle]

16. YAHOO!

I'm with you on that. Maybe a trial will also wring it out of Kenny Boy that he met with Governator to set up the recall to avoid that nasty Bustamante-driven lawsuit ...

[texastoast]

6. Gimme Ken Lay

Silly me. He's Shrubito's buddy. I'll be so surprised if he doesn't get a full pardon.

[dryan]

8. Martha Stewart

Sorry, I can't feel sorry for her. This is a woman who used to be a stockbroker herself -- in fact worked with Brian Dennehy.

[FlaGranny]

10. And???

So the taxpayers should pay millions on her trial ($38,000 profits for her), while GW's friends (many millions in profits) walk free? First things first. Where are the priorities?

[Jackpine Radical]

15. Pardon? Who needs a pardon?

First you'd have to be convicted of something.

Oh I forgot. Repugs are in the habit of issuing pre-emptive pardons for their buds to keep them from rolling over for the prosecution once said Repugs leave office.

[Maddy McCall]

9. Her lawyer on now...Robert Morvillo

He said they are looking forward to the next ROUNDS.

Said that they are looking forward to having the decision reversed in the Court of Appeals.

[msmcghee]

13. The whole idea of criminalizing inside trading is phony.

Anyone who thinks about it just for a minute must realize that with billions of dollars at stake, and the whole securities industry run by high intensity persons who think of themselves as more clever than everyone else in the business - that the whole thing obviously must be run by trading inside information and favors.

If you have enough money to invest you will either gain access to that information - or you'll stupidly lose your money.

How can anyone in their right mind believe that most (or even a minority) of the securities trading companies are operated by straight shooters who would follow the letter of the law - just because it's right.

How utterly stupid. The only thing anti insider-trading laws do is create the false impression that the little guy can invest safely in securities and have the same chances as the big hitters. It's never been true - and it never will be.

Like everything else in the world involving lots of money - it's a scam for the rich to get richer from the investments of others who are stupid enough to believe that big money will ever be set up to give the little guy a fair chance.

[readmylips]

14. All those stock pundits on tv 24/7...what do you think they..

are selling to the public? Inside trading of course. They call it predictions. Sure, when they have their money in the stocks they call the shots for. Bunch of Bastards!

[MikeG]

17. Did she cover up? Yes. She's Guilty. Its simple.