Aimee Harris, a Florida woman, was sentenced to one month in prison and three months of home confinement for stealing and selling the diary of President Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden, to a conservative group, Project Veritas. Harris admitted to receiving $20,000 of the $40,000 paid by Project Veritas for personal items belonging to Ashley Biden, including the diary, a digital storage card, books, clothing, and luggage. Harris pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in August 2022. In court, Harris tearfully apologized for enabling Ashley Biden’s personal writings to be made public, expressing regret for her actions.
Project Veritas is known for conducting hidden-camera stings that have embarrassed news outlets, labor organizations, and Democratic politicians. The stolen diary case was considered a serious and despicable act by Judge Laura Taylor Swain, who criticized Harris for exploiting the president’s daughter for profit and trying to impact the presidential election. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman stated that Harris aimed to damage Ms. Biden’s father by selling her items to make money. Harris and her co-defendant, Robert Kurlander, had even attempted to sell Ashley Biden’s belongings to then-President Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign.
Harris admitted in court that she had been consumed with caring for her two children, ages 8 and 6, which led to her failure to appear at numerous sentencing dates. She disclosed that she is a survivor of long-term domestic abuse and sexual trauma, providing context for her actions. Despite her defense attorney Anthony Cecutti requesting that she not receive prison time due to her traumatic life experiences and difficulties securing full-time employment, Judge Swain emphasized the seriousness of Harris’ crimes and the impact they had on the victim. The judge noted that Harris had abused and strained the court system by making promises with no intention of keeping them.
Harris is expected to report to a Florida federal prison in July to serve her one-month sentence. The judge’s decision to impose prison time on Harris was influenced by the severity of her crime and the harm it caused to both Ashley Biden and her family. Harris expressed remorse for her actions in court and acknowledged the impact of her behavior. The case highlighted the dangerous consequences of exploiting private information for personal gain and the importance of respecting individuals’ privacy. Harris’ sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in illegal activities that violate the trust and privacy of others.
