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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSupreme Court Poised to Cut Back Scope of Anti-Corruption Law.
The question for the justices was whether a federal law prohibits not only before-the-fact bribes but also after-the-fact rewards.
The Supreme Court seemed ready on Monday to limit the reach of a federal statute that makes it a crime for state and local officials, along with institutions that receive federal money, to accept gifts and payments meant to influence or reward their actions.
'In a lively argument studded with hypothetical questions about gifts as varied as cookies, Starbucks gift cards, meals at the Cheesecake Factory and 10-figure donations to hospitals, a majority of the justices seemed persuaded that the governments interpretation of the law was too broad.
Before the argument, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. announced that Justice Clarence Thomas would be absent but would participate in the case by reading the briefs and the transcript of the argument. The chief justice did not say why.
The case concerned James Snyder, who was mayor of Portage, Ind., along Lake Michigan, when the city bought garbage trucks from a local company under a bidding process that prosecutors said had been manipulated to ensure the company prevailed. After the process was complete, the company paid Mr. Snyder $13,000 for what he later said were consulting services.
Prosecutors charged Mr. Snyder with violating the federal law, which covers anyone who solicits or demands for the benefit of any person, or accepts or agrees to accept, anything of value from any person, intending to be influenced or rewarded. He was found guilty in March 2021 and sentenced to 21 months in prison.
The question for the justices was whether the law applies only to before-the-fact bribes or also to after-the-fact gratuities.
Lisa S. Blatt, a lawyer for Mr. Snyder, warned the justices that a broad reading of the law would turn routine gifts into crimes backed by 10-year prison sentences. She added that it was impossible to draw a workable line between prohibited gifts and permissible ones.'>>>
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/15/us/supreme-court-anti-corruption-law.html
Anything in it for Thomas, y'all think???
multigraincracker
(32,690 posts)Got to help the rich get richer and the pot get poorer.
Rstrstx
(1,399 posts)Old Crank
(3,598 posts)Legitimize corruption.
VERY troubling.
Voltaire2
(13,078 posts)cstanleytech
(26,299 posts)to be hearing a case that essentially would be calling into question his own blatant actions.
3Hotdogs
(12,393 posts)He's probably helping his squeeze with a hangover,
JHB
(37,161 posts)...from a case where "conflict of interest" is central.
A strategy to keep his name out of it and his profile low for something where his career-long disregard for conflicts of interest could be highlighted.
ActRaiser
(31 posts)As long as it is practiced by the "right" people.
Buckeyeblue
(5,499 posts)Dinner is fine. Even tickets to a sporting event are fine. Once or twice a year.
Gift cards are not ok. Nor is cash. Ever.
perhaps injustice thomas will receive a garbage truck that has been converted into a luxury recreational vehicle.
William Seger
(10,779 posts)Why should there be ANY "permissible gifts" to someone who has benefited your company?
Johonny
(20,854 posts)By law. But these asshats get motor homes and its okay? What a country.