Hurricane Irma buys former Maine developer an extra week before prison

Michael Liberty, sentenced to four months for campaign finance law violations, was to have reported to prison on Friday.

A hurricane bearing down on Florida will give former Maine developer Michael Liberty an extra week of freedom before he has to report to prison.

Liberty pleaded guilty to violating federal campaign finance laws by using family members and employees to exceed limits on political donations. The employees and family members contributed money to a presidential campaign in 2012 and were then illegally reimbursed by Liberty.

Liberty was sentenced on Aug. 9 to four months in prison and a fine of $100,000 for the violations. He has already paid the fine and was due to report Friday to federal prison officials to begin serving his time.

But U.S. District Judge D. Brock Hornby on Tuesday granted an emergency motion by Liberty’s lawyers asking his report date be pushed back a week because of the approach of Hurricane Irma, a powerful storm forecast to hit Florida this weekend.

Liberty, who was a prominent developer in Portland in the 1980s, now lives near Orlando, Florida, with his wife, a 15-year-old son and an infant son. The motion by his lawyers said he needs the extra time to secure his home and make sure his family will be safe when the storm hits. The motion also noted that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has imposed a state of emergency in Florida because of the hurricane.

Government lawyers did not object to the week-long delay