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Martha Stewart Released From Prison
Whisked Past Reporters at 12:30 A.M. Eastern Time Friday
By Larry Downing, Reuters
Martha is saying goodbye to Alderson Federal Prison Camp.
ALDERSON, W.Va. (March 4) - Martha Stewart, the lifestyle trendsetter who built a media empire, was set free from a West Virginia prison early Friday after serving five months for lying to investigators about a stock trade.
She was released at 12:30 a.m. , slipped into a car that drove passed reporters and camera crews waiting outside the prison gate and began the 30 minute ride to a local airport, where more journalists were waiting.
Stewart, whose trial and sentencing last year captured national attention, was expected to fly to her 153-acre suburban estate in Bedford, New York, to resume a whirl of TV and media projects despite having to serve a further five months of house arrest.
Wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet and monitored by federal authorities, Stewart, 63, will be allowed to leave her home for 48 hours weekly to go to her office.
And she has plenty to do. Pending projects include a new television show, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," a spin-off of the popular Donald Trump reality TV show, to be produced by Mark Burnett, who also created the hit show "Survivor".
She also will have a new daytime cooking and lifestyle TV show and will resume collecting her $900,000-a-year salary plus bonuses as the creative force of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia .
Stewart, who resigned as chairman and chief executive of the company, is reportedly in talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission in hopes of being allowed to resume a leading executive role.
In her five-month absence, the value of stock in her company has more than doubled. It is a far cry from last year when, in the wake of her conviction, the stock price sank, CBS dropped her TV show and advertisers shunned her company magazines.
The national media was camped outside Alderson Federal prison waiting for her release. TV networks hired helicopters to hover overhead and photographers staked out local airports.
With few hard facts, tabloids went into overdrive with speculation. New York's Daily News said if Stewart walked out of prison in "a brisk stride," she's strong and defiant. "Slower, heavier steps" will mean a thoughtful, more humble Stewart, it said.
The New York Post reported that Stewart would leave prison several pounds lighter than she went in, despite "acquiring a love for chicken wings from the prison vending machines."
Not that Stewart hasn't been busy at the prison.
Stewart will wear an electronic anklet to monitor her whereabouts during her home confinement.
According to her magazine "Martha Stewart Living," she has foraged for dandelion greens to improve the prison fare, whipped up impromptu microwave recipes, taught yoga, read Bob Dylan's autobiography, made a ceramic Nativity scene for her mother and crocheted toy opossums for her dogs.
In anticipation of getting out, she ordered seeds and made to-do lists.
Fans were just as excited. The Web site www.savemartha.com featured a clock counting down the minutes until her release and suggestions for throwing a "Free Martha" party -- Trade recipes and serve a spring-like buffet.
Stewart, who built a catering company into a media empire of lifestyle magazines, cookbooks and television shows, was found guilty in March 2004 of conspiracy and making false statements.
She will have 72 hours after her release to report to the probation department in White Plains, N.Y., officials said. A probation officer will set up an appointment to install an electronic monitoring system in her home.
Whisked Past Reporters at 12:30 A.M. Eastern Time Friday
By Larry Downing, Reuters
Martha is saying goodbye to Alderson Federal Prison Camp.
ALDERSON, W.Va. (March 4) - Martha Stewart, the lifestyle trendsetter who built a media empire, was set free from a West Virginia prison early Friday after serving five months for lying to investigators about a stock trade.
She was released at 12:30 a.m. , slipped into a car that drove passed reporters and camera crews waiting outside the prison gate and began the 30 minute ride to a local airport, where more journalists were waiting.
Stewart, whose trial and sentencing last year captured national attention, was expected to fly to her 153-acre suburban estate in Bedford, New York, to resume a whirl of TV and media projects despite having to serve a further five months of house arrest.
Wearing an electronic surveillance bracelet and monitored by federal authorities, Stewart, 63, will be allowed to leave her home for 48 hours weekly to go to her office.
And she has plenty to do. Pending projects include a new television show, "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," a spin-off of the popular Donald Trump reality TV show, to be produced by Mark Burnett, who also created the hit show "Survivor".
She also will have a new daytime cooking and lifestyle TV show and will resume collecting her $900,000-a-year salary plus bonuses as the creative force of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia .
Stewart, who resigned as chairman and chief executive of the company, is reportedly in talks with the Securities and Exchange Commission in hopes of being allowed to resume a leading executive role.
In her five-month absence, the value of stock in her company has more than doubled. It is a far cry from last year when, in the wake of her conviction, the stock price sank, CBS dropped her TV show and advertisers shunned her company magazines.
The national media was camped outside Alderson Federal prison waiting for her release. TV networks hired helicopters to hover overhead and photographers staked out local airports.
With few hard facts, tabloids went into overdrive with speculation. New York's Daily News said if Stewart walked out of prison in "a brisk stride," she's strong and defiant. "Slower, heavier steps" will mean a thoughtful, more humble Stewart, it said.
The New York Post reported that Stewart would leave prison several pounds lighter than she went in, despite "acquiring a love for chicken wings from the prison vending machines."
Not that Stewart hasn't been busy at the prison.
Stewart will wear an electronic anklet to monitor her whereabouts during her home confinement.
According to her magazine "Martha Stewart Living," she has foraged for dandelion greens to improve the prison fare, whipped up impromptu microwave recipes, taught yoga, read Bob Dylan's autobiography, made a ceramic Nativity scene for her mother and crocheted toy opossums for her dogs.
In anticipation of getting out, she ordered seeds and made to-do lists.
Fans were just as excited. The Web site www.savemartha.com featured a clock counting down the minutes until her release and suggestions for throwing a "Free Martha" party -- Trade recipes and serve a spring-like buffet.
Stewart, who built a catering company into a media empire of lifestyle magazines, cookbooks and television shows, was found guilty in March 2004 of conspiracy and making false statements.
She will have 72 hours after her release to report to the probation department in White Plains, N.Y., officials said. A probation officer will set up an appointment to install an electronic monitoring system in her home.
