It's a great day to be
a corrupt politician. Yeah, it's a little redundant.
McDonnell's case centered around the question of what constitutes the scope of an "official action" under federal corruption law. He received gifts, money and loans from Jonnie R. Williams, the CEO of a Virginia-based company, the government said, in exchange for official acts seen as favorable to Williams and his business.
...
Writing for the Supreme Court, Chief Justice John Roberts set a clear definition of the term "official action" and how it can be used in corruption convictions.
"In sum, an 'official act' is a decision or action on a 'question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding or controversy," Roberts wrote. "Setting up a meeting, talking to another official, or organizing an event (or agreeing to do so) -- without more -- does not fit that definition of an official act."
In short, 9-0 the conviction is overturned and bribery is legal so long as you can prove: (i) the briber doesn't profit too much from it and (ii) the bribee doesn't do anything too out of the ordinary, it's all cool. Why is this interesting?
it sure looks as though Trump’s donation to Bondi was intended to achieve instant results, and it did just that. Scott Maxwell at the Orlando Sentinel lays out the story here: “One day, Bondi’s office told this newspaper it was reviewing complaints from Floridians who said they felt swindled by the Trump Institute affiliate of Trump University. Four days later, Trump’s foundation cut a $25,000 check to Bondi’s campaign committee. Then, after the check came in, her office decided not to take any action against Trump.”
Hmm. Surely there's a valid explanation for this.
The longer version goes this way: On Aug. 25, 2013, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit on behalf of a class of plaintiffs alleging that Trump University and its affiliates were “sham for-profit colleges” that misled consumers about what they would get for their money.
Right around that time, as Bondi has admitted, she personally solicited a donation from Trump. In September 2013, Bondi “publicly announced she was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University's activities.” Three days later, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, based in New York, made a $25,000 contribution to And Justice for All, a political group that backs Bondi. A few days later, Bondi announced that her office had declined to join the multistate suit or to bring suit in Florida. Six months later, in March 2014, Trump hosted a $150,000 fundraiser for Bondi at his Mar-a-Lago resort at cut-rate prices.
Wow. That's not even subtle. Is any of that shit an official act?
Diogenes of Sinope: "It is not that I am mad, it is only that my head is different from yours."
Arnold Judas Rimmer, BSC, SSC: "Better dead than smeg."
