Florida woman sentenced to one month in prison for selling Ashley Biden’s diary

Aimee Harris, a Florida mother, has been sentenced to a month in prison and three months of home confinement for stealing and selling US President Joe Biden's daughter, Ashley Biden's, diary to the conservative group Project Veritas.

Calling Harris' actions "despicable," Judge Laura Taylor Swain delivered the ruling in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday (Apr 9).

How much did she sell Ashley Biden's diary for?

As per the South China Morning Post, Harris pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in August 2022. She admitted to receiving $20,000 of the $40,000 from Project Veritas for personal items belonging to Ashley Biden.

Project Veritas, a self-described news organisation, as per the report, is known for its undercover, hidden camera stings that have embarrassed news outlets, labour organisations, and Democratic politicians.

Harris apologises to Biden's daughter

In a tearful and remorseful statement, Harris expressed regret for her role in making Ashley Biden's private writings public.

She reportedly found the diary and other items at a friend's home in Delray Beach, Florida, in 2020 and made a "grave error in judgment" by selling them.

Harris told the judge she was "a survivor of long-term domestic abuse and sexual trauma."

The mother of two children aged six and eight said she did not "believe I am above the law," after a prosecutor pushed for a prison sentence because Harris failed to appear at many sentencing dates.

Her lawyer also highlighted her difficult life circumstances, including surviving long-term domestic abuse and sexual trauma, and her efforts to care for her two young children.

"She carries the shame and stigma of her actions," Defence lawyer Anthony Cecutti urging no prison time.

However, Assistant US Attorney Robert Sobelman argued that Harris's actions demonstrated a "pattern of disrespect for the law and the justice system."

"Ms Biden is the victim in this case," he said, adding "She wanted to damage Ms Biden's father".

In her sentencing, Judge Swain noted that Harris and a co-defendant, Robert Kurlander, had attempted unsuccessfully to sell Ashley Biden’s belongings to then-President Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign before selling them to Project Veritas.

She described Harris's actions as motivated by greed and a desire to influence the nation's political landscape.

(With inputs from agencies)