my condolences
I guarantee this is happening in your country too whether or not it’s legal.
Navalny, is that you?
I guarantee this is happening in your country too whether or not it’s legal
So is murder, that doesn’t make it not bad if the highest court in the land makes murder legal
Jesus Christ. What a comment. 🤦
I never said it wasn’t bad. Of course it’s bad. I’m just saying politicians are being bribed everywhere and getting away with it all the time whether or not it’s legal. So yes, this is bad, but I also don’t think much will change because of it.
You literally have to be hoarding gold bars to get punished for that sort of thing in America.
Plus, as others have pointed out, this doesn’t actually legalize corruption because the issue here can still be covered by other laws.
Yeah like squid get some sugar in the blood or hydrate or smh are you all right
Whether it is legal or not is the whole crux of the thing…
If it isn’t legal then it is purely a matter of the skill of law enforcement. If it is legal then well, condolences.
it is purely a matter of the skill of law enforcement
This is America. Law enforcement exists to protect the rich and powerful, especially from this sort of thing. The politicians get caught are just too stupid to figure out how to hide it.
Also, as others have pointed out, this doesn’t actually legalize corruption.
Well, my condolences x2 then
That’s the bigger thing to have condolences about, honestly. In general, if you’re rich and powerful, you can do whatever the hell you want in the U.S. and the law will be on your side. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so amazing that Trump was found guilty in the New York trial.
I hear you, well that’s just plain depressing, hope it changes at some point. Sometimes it has to get worse to get better
When the illusion of successful country dissipates that’s when you can make some changes
I hope so too.
This is quid pro quo being ruled as NOT bribery because it comes to the person on the backside of the favor. This is almost certainly to do with the majority of the court recently being outed about the amount of high value
bribesgifts/vacations they are getting from “friends”.“We realized that people now knew the things we constantly do wrong, so we made them not wrong anymore.”
“We’ve investigated ourselves and found no evidence of wrongdoing”
This is almost certainly to do with the majority of the court recently being outed about the amount of high value bribes gifts/vacations they are getting from “friends”.
Nah, this is a long running theme. In chronological order-
Sun Diamond Growers - The government must prove the bribe is actually connected to the act.
Skilling - Corruption charges require a second party to give you a bribe or kickback, self dealing is fine.
Citizens United - Money is political speech, and you can spend as much as you want on an election.
McDonnell - Acting as a pay to play gatekeeper is fine. Even if the government connects the bribe to the act.
Ted Cruz - Politicians can keep unspent campaign funds as long as they maintain the fiction of having lent the campaign money.
Snyder - Kickbacks aren’t actionable. <- We are here.
So that means that I can engage in a a little tax evasion, as a treat, right?
Define bribe and you’ll start to see where enforcing this becomes a problem. Especially with legalized corruption in the form of lobbying and ‘gifts’.
Well, federal officials are already forbidden from accepting gifts/anything valued more than $25 in one instance, and no more than $100 a year from any one group or person. Enforcing that seems like a good place to start.
Billionaires can just make a coupon thousand shell orgs to funnel $100ks into their pockets.
Legislators, executives, and jurists aren’t officials in the sense you mean. They are referring to government employees, who can still receive every joyful punishment a prosecutor can dream of.
Well, perhaps the wording should be amended to encompass all public employees. But that would require the law be rewritten by the people that benefit from it, so, yeah.
Can we start actually enforcing this please?
No. You can’t bind the rich.
Openly corrupt assholes rule being openly corrupt very legal and very cool.
Yeah, that sounds about right.
I’ve posted this elsewhere but I hate this so: A “donation” up front says I’ll see what I can do, money after the fact says I’ll fight for you. Sounds like bribery to me. Not that the current system isn’t but backend feels so much worse
Who’s ready for a sit it?
SCOTUS has officially entered the sewage system courtesy of the GOP and Trump.
Since long ago, my friend. Citizens United was a landmark in my opinion, although there are probably older rulings that showed how little they care about basic functionality in a democracy.
and Trump
Lol read up on Bush v. Gore in 2000.
NOW is the proper time for Alito to hang his fucking flag upside down.
JFC.
bro i thought this was an onion post for a second what the fuck just happened
Just yet ANOTHER consequence of Trump’s first term…
It’s a GOOD THING none of these Justices ruling on the Legality of Bribery have EVER taken Bribes!
It’s not a bribe it’s a gift! But it sounds like they need to rewrite the law. Politicians shouldn’t be accepting gratuities, gifts, or bribes.
So is the difference “I’ll give you money to do this thing” versus “I’ll give you money if you do this thing”?
They both sound like bribes to me. Money, goods, or services are just handed over at different times.
I fucking hate these people. No shame. No morals. No humanity.
It’s a kickback. They just made kickbacks completely legal.
My interpretation of the article is that it’s a question of timing. If you offer me money in order to hook you up, that’s a bribe. But if I hook you up and later you give me money in thanks, that’s not a bribe.
Obviously both of them are corrupt. But apparently this law can only target the former.
No see the first one is a bribe, the second one is a job. I’m paying you for your time! /s
That was actually the argument made by the official in question. Called it a “consulting fee”.
Now the politicians want tips?!
Remember highest tipper gets to control the Domi.
Wait. I shouldn’t make that joke- sex work is way more honest.
Sounds like someone could use a little treat.
Posted this in another thread on the issue but worth saying again because most people see to be confused as to the actual implications of this ruling:
Although a gratuity or reward offered and accepted by a state or local official after the official act may be unethical or illegal under other federal, state, or local laws, the gratuity does not violate §666.
Tldr the ruling only was about in relation to one law. The party may be guilty of a form of corruption under a different law.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-108_8n5a.pdf
Read page 2 of the syllabus where it says “Held:” until page 4 if you want the shorter version.
Otherwise there’s a 16 page explanation under the “opinion of the court” section directly after the syllabus, for those who are interested in a longer explanation.
Except SCOTUS will just strike down the next one too. The modern court has never supported bribery charges that come before it.
Edit to add a quick history from the last 25 years.
Sun Diamond Growers - The government must prove the bribe is actually connected to the act.
Skilling - Corruption charges require a second party to give you a bribe or kickback, self dealing is fine.
Citizens United - Money is political speech, and you can spend as much as you want on an election.
McDonnell - Acting as a pay to play gatekeeper is fine. Even if the government connects the bribe to the act.
Ted Cruz - Politicians can keep unspent campaign funds as long as they maintain the fiction of having lent the campaign money.
Snyder - Kickbacks aren’t actionable. <- We are here.
Can I get a teal deer for that tldr?
TLDR of the TLDR:
Court said the gov charged him with the wrong thing. Look for another charge, he’s probably screwed.
