Sampson too embarrassed to admit law license had been suspended
Former state Senate Democratic conference leader John Sampson, who was convicted in July 2015 of a single count of obstructing justice and two counts of lying to federal investigators, blamed “great embarrassment” for his failure last spring to disclose to a family court judge that his law license had been suspended.
The March court appearance occurred just five days after Sampson agreed to a court order that barred him from appearing as an attorney before any “court, judge, justice, board, commission or other public authority,” and to advise his clients that he would withdraw from all litigation matters.
Sampson said he showed up to the March 22 family court appearance with the intention of withdrawing from the case, but failed to tell the judge the reason why. He noted that he neither asked for nor received a fee for his appearance.
Earlier this month, prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District said the incident highlighted their contention that Samson “habitually acts as if rules and laws do not apply to him, or are at most inconvenient obstacles to be sidestepped,” according to a court filing. The office handles Sampson’s home borough of Brooklyn and points east.
Read more: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/270555/sampson-too-embarrassed-to-admit-law-license-had-been-suspended/