General Discussion

DetlefK

(16,423 posts) Mon Nov 6, 2017, 01:34 PM Nov 2017

Trump Jr. likely broke anti-corruption law in meeting with russian lawyer.

https://www.rawstory.com/2017/11/ex-federal-prosecutor-explains-why-trump-jr-could-face-felony-charge-beyond-the-reach-of-a-pardon/

Trump Jr. doesn’t dispute that he suggested a re-examination of the Magnitsky Act if his father was elected, and Mariotti said the president’s son quite likely broke the law with his offer.

“It is a federal crime to exchange an ‘official act’ for something of value,” Mariotti said. “It’s called ‘theft of honest services.’ To put it more simply, offering to exchange an official act for something of value is like soliciting a bribe. There can be no serious question that supporting repeal of the Magnitsky Act would be an official act for purposes of this statute.”

Mariotti said prosecutors would need to show evidence of a connection between Trump Jr.’s offer and his request for damaging information on Hillary Clinton — but he said that’s not always easy.

“The question is what the Russian lawyer understood Trump Jr. to mean during the conversation,” Mariotti said. “Did she think he wanted dirt in exchange?”

...

The president’s son could potentially find himself beyond the reach of a pardon, which covers only federal crimes, Mariotti said.

“Trump can’t pardon state offenses,” Mariotti said. “My initial glance at New York law suggests that, unsurprisingly, this is also a felony under state law.”