O’Neal Seeks Eight-Week Delay Before Prison Surrender, Citing Need for Appeal Counsel and Medical Care

Jenifer O’Neal’s new attorney, Carl Williams, has asked District Court Judge Mark Kearney to reconsider an order requiring her to surrender into custody by Tuesday, arguing that the former Office of Management and Budget director needs additional time to retain counsel for her appeal. Mr. Williams, who says he has only been temporarily retained, is also asking the court to delay the start of Ms. O’Neal’s prison sentence by eight weeks. Ms. O’Neal was sentenced last week to seven years in prison after Judge Kearney said she “traded her integrity for cash” in the Mon Ethos corruption scandal. According to Mr. Williams, she now “requires additional time to retain qualified representation” after dismissing her trial attorney, Dale Smith. Ms. O’Neal has accused Mr. Smith of failing to handle her matter with due care, citing late filings and a failure to request a trial separate from her co-accused, among other alleged issues. In the motion, Mr. Williams argued that the roughly two-month...