Are Cooper's Supporters Ashamed to Have Identities Known?

News today from the Southeast Missourian's Rudi Keller on the long-awaited and oft-delayed sentencing of GOP illegal immigration violator Nathan Cooper.  According to Keller, Cooper's attorney recently submitted to the court a filing constituted of letters supportive of Cooper to the judge who'll sentence him.  From the story:

On Tuesday, Schwartz filed a response to the federal sentencing
report on Cooper and entered another pleading with 32 letters to
Hamilton on Cooper's behalf.

The contents of those letters, however, are sealed. Schwartz
declined to comment Friday on who wrote letters on Cooper's behalf or
what they were seeking on his behalf. He also declined to speak about
what he expected today.

It appears there are a few dozen people who feel strongly enough about Nathan Cooper to write a letter to a judge on his behalf but who don't feel strongly enough about the admitted criminal to have their support of Cooper known publicly.  Courageous acts, indeed.

­So who are these tepid supporters of Nathan Cooper?  Have prominent Republican officials --such as Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder and Senator Jason Crowell-- written letters to a judge to urge leniency for a fellow Republican who committed crimes that bolstered illegal immigration in the United States, but hidden their support for Cooper out of public view?  Does purported "support" for Cooper in the form of a letter really mean anything if its author is assured that the letter will remain forever under seal? 

Sadly and unsurprisingly, these are but the latest unanswered questions in a case that's been full of them.  We've already been left to wonder about whether Cooper was given the opportunity to provide information to federal prosecutors about other crimes about which he had knowledge; whether the federal prosecutor, another Republican, improperly remained on the case; why Cooper got a sweet deal in return for cooperation with a sting of an associate against whom all charges were ultimately dropped; and now about whether Cooper will get a light sentence due in part to supportive statements which are left conveniently under seal and out of the hands of the public. 

Everything about the Cooper case gives the impression that special efforts have been made to insulate him from the full consequences of his crimes.  The latest installment fits the trend.  What is it Cooper knows that has folks going out of their way to makes sure his fall is cushioned best as possible?