In a case that has attracted national attention, Aimee Harris, a Florida resident, was sentenced to one month in prison for the theft and subsequent sale of a diary belonging to Ashley Biden, the daughter of President Joe Biden. Following her prison term, Harris will also undergo three months of home confinement. The sentencing occurred in a Manhattan federal court where Harris, addressing the court, emphasized her understanding of the law and shared her struggles with long-term domestic abuse and sexual trauma.
Harris had previously admitted to a conspiracy charge in August 2022, acknowledging her role in a scheme that saw personal items of Ashley Biden being sold to Project Veritas, a conservative group known for its hidden-camera investigations. Harris’s involvement netted her $20,000 out of the $40,000 paid by the organization for the items.
The stolen items were taken from a residence in Delray Beach, Florida, where Ashley Biden believed her belongings were stored after her temporary stay there in 2020. The cache of stolen goods included a diary, a digital storage card, books, clothing, luggage, and more, with Harris’s intention seemingly to maximize profit from the sale of these items.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Sobelman pointed to Harris’s motive for the theft as an attempt to inflict damage on Ms. Biden’s father, especially considering the timing in relation to the presidential election. Judge Laura Taylor Swain, presiding over the case, condemned Harris’s actions as “despicable and serious,” criticizing her for exploiting the president’s daughter for personal gain and attempting to influence the political landscape.
Further complicating the matter was the revelation that Harris, along with co-defendant Robert Kurlander, had unsuccessfully attempted to sell the stolen items to then-President Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2020 election. This detail underscores the politicized nature of the crime and its potential implications for the presidential race.
Harris’s defense highlighted her challenging personal circumstances, including her responsibility for her two children and her history of overcoming abuse and violence. Her attorney, Anthony Cecutti, argued that the trial and the public scrutiny it entailed had already served as significant punishment for Harris, who has struggled to find full-time employment due to the notoriety of the case.
The sentencing of Aimee Harris brings a measure of closure to a peculiar and politically charged case, spotlighting the intersection of personal trauma, political machinations, and the legal system. Harris is slated to begin her prison term in Florida come July, marking the end of a saga that has captured the attention of the public and media alike.