He has no idea that what he is doing is wrong. Typical narcissistic sociopath....

Is it really a felony? Just like I tell Republican friends that complain about “due process” I tell them that this is a political process not a court of law. Hence this is corrupt and as such should be treated that way, I’m not sure it’s a felony in the legal sense. Not sure though.

Won't somebody help me?

Let Republicans explain why it is okay for the jury to accept money from the defendant.

And thanks to CGI, the defendant is Trump and the Jurors are Moscow Mitch and all the relevant Russiapublican Senators.

Impeachment is an entirely political, not criminal process.

Most of what Trump does is unethical, but Painter is way off the reservation here in calling it criminal.

I suppose it depends upon what he/she is being impeached for.........

If impeached for giving military secrets to an enemy, I would think most people would call that beyond criminal......

The only punishment that can be imposed is removal from office and disqualification from holding federal office in the future.

It is entirely separate from whatever consequences that person may face in the criminal justice system.

I'll take your word for it. Seems strange. If you commit Treason, you get the death sentence and yet you can't be impeached for it.
Maybe they figure out some other Federal Court will pursue that possibility???????/

But there would have to be separate prosecution by law enforcement for there to be criminal consequences.

just another impeachable offense. Particularly egregious but just another one to pile on.

Also a different argument than Painter is making.

That was what the Supreme Court said when they overturned the conviction of the Republican governor from Virginia (I forget the name).

So unless you have actual proof that the money is payment for their vote, you probably won't get a conviction.

Best to fight this fight in the court of public perception/opinion because you don't win in the courts.

It's either a FELONY or it's not.

I have no familiarity with criminal or Constitutional law so I don't know if this is a felony or not, as I explained.

I did feel that it was a topic worth discussion.

YMMV

I know if I sent a check to the democratic candidate and he/she sent it along to someone down ticket, I wouldn't be happy. I don't consider it used as a petty cash drawer.

Once you have donated, the campaign can do that.

Whether those laws need reform is a different conversation.

Last edited Thu Oct 31, 2019, 08:51 PM - Edit history (2)

Painter knows (or should now) that what he describes doesn't come even remotely close to an actionable claim of bribery. And his claim that members of Congress who accept contributions from Trump (directly or indirectly) could be prosecuted for it also isn't actionable.

It's pretty telling that he doesn't cite or describe any of the case law on the application of bribery laws to campaign contributions. (Hint: its damn near impossible to make out a bribery case based on a campaign contribution unless you can prove that the recipient wouldn't have acted a certain way but for the contribution).

I hope we can survive this one. This stress test is on our way of life. This stress test is on our very lives.

Good luck, to everyone.

Siegelman was sentenced by Judge Mark Everett Fuller, a George W. Bush appointee, to more than seven years in federal prison and a $50,000 fine ...

https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2017/02/timeline_of_don_siegelman_case.html

By Alex Rogers, CNN
Updated 9:45 AM ET, Fri October 4, 2019

(CNN)In a new campaign video on Facebook, Senate Majority Mitch McConnell pitches himself as the man who can end the House's impeachment inquiry, a sign of how the chief Republican in the chamber might handle an impeachment trial should the House pass articles charging President Donald Trump with crimes.

"Nancy Pelosi is in the clutches of a left-wing mob," McConnell says directly to a camera. "They've finally convinced her to impeach the President. All of you know your Constitution. The way that impeachment stops is a Senate majority, with me as majority leader."

"But I need your help," he adds. "Please contribute before the deadline" ...

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/03/politics/mitch-mcconnell-impeachment/index.html

By ALEX ISENSTADT
10/31/2019 05:00 AM EDT

President Donald Trump is rewarding senators who have his back on impeachment — and sending a message to those who don't to get on board.

Trump is tapping his vast fundraising network for a handful of loyal senators facing tough reelection bids in 2020. Each of them has signed onto a Republican-backed resolution condemning the inquiry as “unprecedented and undemocratic.”

Conspicuously absent from the group is Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a politically vulnerable Republican who’s refused to support the resolution and avoided taking a stance on impeachment. With his new push, Trump is exerting leverage over a group he badly needs in his corner with an impeachment trial likely coming soon to the Senate — but that also needs him.
Story Continued Below

Republican senators on the ballot next year are lagging in fundraising, stoking uncertainty about the GOP’s hold on the chamber, and could use the fundraising might of the president. Trump’s political operation has raked in over $300 million this year ...

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/10/31/trump-impeachment-senators-donor-062084

IGOR DERYSH
NOVEMBER 1, 2019 12:00AM (UTC)

... On Wednesday, Trump’s campaign issued a fundraising appeal to supporters to donate funds that would be equally distributed among Sens. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., all of whom are supporting the resolution and face tough re-election battles in 2020.

“If we don’t post strong fundraising numbers,” the campaign warned, “we won't be able to defend the President from this baseless Impeachment WITCH HUNT” ...

Richard Painter, who served as White House ethics chief under President George W. Bush, called Trump’s scheme “criminal.”

“This is a bribe,” he tweeted. “Any other American who offered cash to the jury before a trial would go to prison for felony bribery. But he can get away with it?” ...

https://www.salon.com/2019/10/31/trump-accused-of-bribery-for-showering-cash-on-senate-republicans-ahead-of-impeachment-vote/

Sorry, but Painter knows better, or should know better. There isn't a chance in the universe that Trump directly or indirectly soliciting campaign contributions for Republican senators would be found to be "bribery" under the law.