Supreme Court May Make Prosecuting Bribery Cases Against Public Officials Tougher
The justices, both conservative and liberal, gave a favorable hearing to former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell, who was convicted of corruption for taking $175,000 in cash and gifts from a businessman seeking help to promote his dietary supplement.
McDonnell’s lawyers argued he did little in exchange for the gifts, other than set up meetings at the governor’s mansion with state health officials and university researchers.
The governor did not “cross the line” to commit a crime, attorney Noel Francisco argued, because he did not order or pressure state officials to fund research on the dietary supplement.
The Supreme Court should say no to Bob McDonnell The Times Editorial Board
The Supreme Court will be asked on Wednesday to reverse the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell essentially on the grounds that a businessman who plied the governor with cash and gifts in hopes of business from the state didn’t get his money’s worth. The court should decisively…
The Supreme Court will be asked on Wednesday to reverse the corruption conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell essentially on the grounds that a businessman who plied the governor with cash and gifts in hopes of business from the state didn’t get his money’s worth. The court should decisively…
(The Times Editorial Board)
Most of the justices said they would be troubled if those kinds of meetings and lunches could be turned into criminal acts.
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