Christopher Matthews is reporting today at the Wall Street Journal that conservative commentator and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza has been sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to a charge of funneling illegal campaign contributions to Wendy Long, an unsuccessful Republican candidate and challenger in 2012 for the U.S. Senate seat still held by Kirsten Gillibrand. (D-NY).  D’Souza had directed two associates to contribute a total of $20,000 to Ms. Long’s campaign, for which he reimbursed them.

The full article is behind the WSJ paywall, but here is an excerpt:

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman sentenced him to five years of probation.  The judge, who had tough words for Mr. D’Souza during a lengthy statement, said that while Mr. D’Souza didn’t deserve to go to prison, his sentence had to have some teeth.

He cited post-plea television interviews Mr. D’Souza gave in which, according to Judge Berman, he appeared to deflect responsibility for his crimes.  “[Mr. D’Souza is] a talker, in fact, he’s almost a compulsive talker,” Judge Berman said.  “I don’t think he’s a listener.”

Benjamin Brafman, a lawyer for Mr. D’Souza, called the sentence “well-thought out” and “enlightened” after Tuesday’s hearing.  “We are obviously delighted that Judge Berman spared Mr. D’Souza a prison sentence,” Mr. Brafman said.

Overall, very good news, as I was not optimistic back in January when I posted about his arrest, HERE.  I’m glad that D’Souza will not be incarcerated, and this puts his sentence on a par with others, particularly Democrats, who violated the same campaign laws some years ago without being jailed.