Paul/Mitch,
I think you are both misreading Holding?s statement. Holding is almost certainly using ?acceptance of responsibility? in its legal context. That is if a defendant accepts responsibility for his crime, under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, they get a shorter sentence.
To oversimplify, each crime has a point value assigned to it. Certain things can add to that point value, other things subtract from that point value. After all that’s figure out, you look at a gris chart and it gives a sentencing range (it’s advisory now). Acceptance of responsibility is one of the things that subtracts. And how much it subtracts cn depend upon the U.S. Attorney’s recommendation.
So Black’s plea today is just another part really of his federal plea deal leading up to his sentencing.
