Reducing Mangano's term now wouldn't hurt the public

Sept. 13 will mark four years since two-term Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano entered the federal prison system to begin serving a 12-year sentence for felonies related to using his office to pressure the Town of Oyster Bay to indirectly back loans for a concessionaire.

This clear case of local corruption involved restaurateur Harendra Singh, a Mangano friend who provided a $454,000 seldom-show job for the Republican politician's wife Linda and free meals, trips, luxury chairs, hardwood floors and a $7,300 wristwatch.

Singh pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve 4 years, but after surrendering to a federal facility in November 2024, he was released to a "reentry" program in February. Linda Mangano served about five months of a 15-month sentence.

Edward Mangano, 64, is due to be resentenced by U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack on Sept. 15 because an appeals court threw out part of his 2019 conviction. His lawyers cite his "model" behavior at the Fort Devens military base in Massachusetts, where he has three jobs and is a "mentor and positive influence for other inmates." They ask that the sentence be reduced to 5 years. Prosecutors stand by the original 12 years.

But how does the Mangano case stack up against the criminal acts President Donald Trump has excused?

Trump excused expelled Long Island Rep. George Santos who served three of 87 months of his felony sentence. Trump pardoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who tried to sell a U.S. Senate appointment.

Plus there's the blanket clemency for nearly 1,600 people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, pro-Trump siege of the Capitol. At least 19 have been charged since in new crimes.

On Long Island, convicted drug dealer Jonathan Braun, whom Trump granted clemency, returned to federal prison for 27 months on new charges such as winging an intravenous pole at a hospital nurse and threatening to kill her, screaming at a member of his synagogue, and groping his family's nanny.

With Mangano, there's now little fear of recidivism even though his sentence had been a strong message against political corruption.

As Newsday's news division reported on Tuesday, former Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota and his ex-aide Christopher McPartland, who served federal time in the cover-up of a suspect's beating, are seeking clemency from Trump. But Mangano's case is far different and he has a stronger argument for mercy. 

Judge Azrack gives no sign she'll treat him unfairly upon resentencing. If she does, however, County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other big Nassau County Republicans such as chairman Joe Cairo — those presumed to have clout with the White House — could appeal to the president for a commutation. So far there's no sign anyone is campaigning for that.

The public won't benefit from punishing Mangano and isolating him from his family any longer than necessary.