More Semi-Free Range Madoff

Photograph of the media outside Bernard Madoff's apartment building earlier today by Seth Wenig/AP

Federal Magistrate Ronald Ellis's decision to allow scammer Bernard Madoff to remain out on bail means that his neighbors at 133 East 64th Street must endure more, most likely, unwelcome attention to their rarefied Upper East Side co-op. The NY Times' Susan Dominus revealed that Madof sent them a note ("printed out on simple white paper, with letterhead formatted by word processor") a few weeks ago:

Dear neighbors,

Please accept my profound apologies for the terrible inconvenience that I have caused over the past weeks. Ruth and I appreciate the support we have received.

Best regards,
Bernard Madoff

However, it's unclear how much support he and Ruth (who happens to be the one paying for her husband's security during his house arrest) have been getting, since at least one tenant is upset he's sticking around, given the tempting target he might be to a disgruntled investor. The media probably would have preferred not to stick around this morning in the freezing cold for the Madoff's eventual no-show: Charles Eckert, who was on the scene for Newsday, told CityRoom, "The irony is that we were all shivering out here and he was sitting up nice and warm at home."

Former SEC lawyer Christopher Bebel tells Bloomberg News that judge's ruling might be a good thing for the feds, though the feds weren't able to revoke Madoff's bail, “The government may have won in that they will now be perceived as aggressive prosecutors. At the same time, they will have more access to Bernie Madoff, and he’ll be in a position to assist them in helping unravel the complexities of the case.” And, in an opinion piece for Newsweek, Joseph Epstein finds a ~~silver~~ zinc lining in the shame Jews are feeling over the Madoff scandal: Maybe it'll stop the "attempt at WASP-ification of well-to-do Jews."

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By Jen Chung in News on January 12, 2009 5:20 PM

Comments [rss]

dadoc

Not to be all Conspiracy-ist, but my feeling is that Ol' Bernie is "cooperating with the investigation" in re: there's other stuff & people involved. It is also not uncommon that, once the primary is is under the thumb, better to leave him free, as his subsequent actions will reveal other leads, and his desperate actions will provide further info. Still, anyone who dealt with him is a fool and screwed.

MFer

"Reboke"? Is this some nasty sexual act or is Jen turning Mexican? There's a song in that, I think. The V-B confusion is typical of Hispanics, not Asians.

In any case, the headline is awesome. It is classic NY Post quality.

Dirk

Tom Wolfe called. He wants his storyline back.

QM

I for one love Bernie Madoff. All he did was play off peoples greed. Most of his victims got what they deserved as far as I'm concerned.

ANGRYGOD11

Dear Stupid Suckers,

Please accept my fake apologies for the terrible inconvenience of ruining your lives that I have caused over the past weeks. Ruth and I appreciate the money we have received and will pass on to our real friends and lawyers.

Best regards,

Bernard Madoff

FinalShaft

Common BabyHitler...we all need visuals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-oaKfEe8Cg

NannyState

Freakin hilarious.

Outter Burrougher

and quite frankly, with the press coverage, it would be very difficult for him to flee and this way we don't have to pay for him until after a trial.

also, does the gov. earn interest on bail money?

west side Michael

If he is in jail he possibly

could be murdered so he is better off

for the Fed's investigation at house arrest.

If the Fed wished him (really) to be in jail

he would be there.

He does look like a Maurice Sendak

character cartoon.

babyhitler

I can just imagine Madoff going home and doing the Fagin "you've got to pick a pocket or two" dance.

Rocknrope

Freakin hilarious.

woodendesigner

Stick his ass in jail and be done with it already. I think his neighbors need to file a class action suit against the courts for being so stupid and not putting this guy where he belongs.