News & Politics - Martha Stewart Gets Out of Prison

mh67511 · 03-04-2005, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Martha Stewart Gets Out of Prison

ALDERSON, W.Va. (Reuters) - Martha Stewart (news - web sites), the lifestyle trendsetter who built a media empire, was set free from a West Virginia prison early on Friday after serving five months for lying to investigators about a stock trade.

She was released at 12:30 a.m., slipped into a vehicle that passed reporters and camera crews waiting outside the prison gate and made the 30-minute ride to a local airport, where more journalists waited.

At the airport she and her daughter Alexis emerged from the vehicle and stepped into the glare of TV cameras that lit up a private jet, smiled broadly and waved to two dozen or so fans, several of whom shouted cries of support, and disappeared into the jet.

She wore blue jeans and a fashionable knit poncho over a green turtleneck.

She said in a statement on her Web site: "The experience of the last five months in Alderson, West Virginia, has been life altering and life affirming ... You can be sure that I will never forget the friends that I met here, all that they have done to help me over these five months, their children, and the stories they have told me."

Stewart, whose trial and sentencing last year captured national attention, was flying to her 153-acre suburban estate in Bedford, New York, to resume a whirl of TV and media projects despite having to serve a further five months of house arrest.

Wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet and monitored by federal authorities, Stewart, 63, will be allowed to leave her home for 48 hours weekly to go to her office.

And she has plenty to do. Pending projects include a new television show, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," a spin-off of the popular Donald Trump reality TV show, to be produced by Mark Burnett, who also created the hit show "Survivor."

She also will have a new daytime cooking and lifestyle TV show and will resume collecting her $900,000-a-year salary plus bonuses as the creative force of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia .

"Someday, I hope to have the chance to talk more about all that has happened, the extraordinary people I have met here and all that I have learned," she said in the posted statement.

RESUMING HER ROLE

Stewart, who resigned as chairman and chief executive of the company, is reportedly in talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission (news - web sites) in hopes of being allowed to resume a leading executive role.

In her five-month absence, the value of stock in her company has more than doubled. It is a far cry from last year when, in the wake of her conviction, the stock price sank, CBS dropped her TV show and advertisers shunned her company magazines.

Stewart has been busy in prison.

According to her magazine "Martha Stewart Living," she has foraged for dandelion greens to improve the prison fare, whipped up impromptu microwave recipes, taught yoga, read Bob Dylan's autobiography, made a ceramic Nativity scene for her mother and crocheted toy opossums for her dogs.

In anticipation of getting out, she ordered seeds and made to-do lists.

Fans were just as excited. The Web site www.savemartha.com featured a clock counting down the minutes until her release and suggestions for throwing a "Free Martha" party -- Trade recipes and serve a spring-like buffet.

Stewart, who built a catering company into a media empire of lifestyle magazines, cookbooks and television shows, was found guilty in March 2004 of conspiracy and making false statements.

She will have 72 hours after her release to report to the probation department in White Plains, New York, officials said. A probation officer will set up an appointment to install an electronic monitoring system in her home.

I don't think she should have been convincted, but she was and served her time, so she gets props. I'm interested to see how they will do her version of "The Apprentice." I like the original but am not sure how hers would be like.

JW77 · 03-04-2005, 12:44 AM

Wow...five months went by really quick. Well, for me anyway. She might feel a bit different.

Anyway, I'm not a fan of reality tv, but I'm sure her show will do well.

SMG_fan · 03-04-2005, 03:39 AM

I'm glad she's out I don't think she deserved to be convicted in the first place. I actually like Martha Stewart and not to many people seem to [that I've come accross, anyway].

Belinda

LittleMilkJug · 03-04-2005, 06:27 AM

I have no idea who she is

ceilirose · 03-04-2005, 06:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittleMilkJug

I have no idea who she is

Here you go

http://marthastewart.com/

She's known as the homemaker's diva among other things. She's the only person I know who can talk for 30 minutes on the proper way to iron cloth napkins and tablecloths.

***Jerry D*** · 03-04-2005, 07:30 AM

I also don't think that she deserved to be sentenced to prison in the first place. I think she was made an example of because she's a powerful woman who comes across as haughty and arrogant to some people, but she's accomplished a lot in her life, and I hope that she'll be able to put this all behind her.

MarvelRoswell · 03-04-2005, 09:34 AM

I'm not a fan, but I'm glad she is out. I, also, believe she should have never been sent to jail and that she was being made an example of. I know many people who would have done the some thing in her shoes.

TokyoNiGHTS · 03-04-2005, 09:38 AM

Whether or not she's being used as an example shouldn't matter, it doesnt change that she lied to the government about the stock. It's illegal, and that's what matters. Alot of people have said that she only got convicted because she was a woman. WHo cares? What she did was illegal, it shouldn't matter what her race or sex was since what she did was illegal and she knew it was.

sick little jag · 03-04-2005, 09:50 AM

well, it's kind of dumb that they convicted her of lying about stocks but then didn't charge her for insider trading.

oh well, she's out now. better lock your doors

...a dangerous, dangerous criminal is free!!!!

TokyoNiGHTS · 03-04-2005, 10:17 AM

So because what she did wasn't directly harmful to anyone, she should walk? We should start ignoring the law and let people walk even if what they're doing is clearly illegal? Letting her walk would do nothing more than increase the public perception that if you have money you're above the law.

***Jerry D*** · 03-04-2005, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TokyoNiGHTS

So because what she did wasn't directly harmful to anyone, she should walk? We should start ignoring the law and let people walk even if what they're doing is clearly illegal? Letting her walk would do nothing more than increase the public perception that if you have money you're above the law.

True point, but what about the Enron and Tyco executives who did far worse things than Martha Stewart did, and whose actions did directly hurt people, who are still free at this point? Yes, what she did was wrong, but I honestly think that she shouldn't have gone to jail for it, but she's served her time, and hopefully she can now move on with her life.

sick little jag · 03-04-2005, 10:38 AM

no, actually i was just trying to make a joke because i think it's freaking hillarious she was in prison. see, i hate them fat cats too.

Ambular · 03-04-2005, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sick little jag

no, actually i was just trying to make a joke because i think it's freaking hillarious she was in prison. see, i hate them fat cats too.

Why is it hilarious? It's a simple process: Break the law, go to jail.

I for one was glad that she was put away, not because I think she is a criminal mastermind or something of that sort, but I am relieved to actually see a celebrity punished for something they did. I'm tired of seeing celebrities get away with breaking the law simply because they have enough money. I wonder what sort of punishment Average Joe would have gotten for obstruction of justice and lying to the government.

TokyoNiGHTS · 03-04-2005, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry D

True point, but what about the Enron and Tyco executives who did far worse things than Martha Stewart did, and whose actions did directly hurt people, who are still free at this point?

I think the Enron guys should be getting 20+ years atleast for what they did. The phonecalls alone that they made joking about what they were doing should be enough to put them away for a long time. I haven't heard about the Tyco case so I can't really comment.

If they're putting her away because she's a woman, then ofcourse its wrong. If they're putting her away because she did something illegal then i'm all for it. The Enron guys should be next though.

Ambular · 03-04-2005, 11:14 AM

I hardly see how she was severely punished in the first place. She only spent 5 months in jail - where her daily activities included yoga classes and crafts; Ooh, that's some hard time - and now she's just under house arrest. I think she got off pretty easy.


Fan Forum > General Discussion > News & Politics > Martha Stewart Gets Out of Prison