Category Archives: bribery

“Bombshell Corruption Case Shines Merciless Light On How Politicians Raise Money”

April 1, 2014, 11:00 ambribery, campaign finance, chicanery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Paul Blumenthal: California state Sen. Leland Yee, a Democrat running for secretary of state, was arrested March 26 as part of a wide-ranging federal investigation into a San Francisco-based Chinese tong and charged with public corruption and arms trafficking.… Continue reading

Quote of the Day

March 30, 2014, 9:42 pmbribery, campaign finance, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

“I’m just trying to run for secretary of state. I hope I don’t get indicted.” —Leland Yee, according to indictment at a meeting where he had arranged for a $10,000 payoff.

“Leland Yee’s campaign debt at root of criminal behavior, authorities allege”

March 30, 2014, 9:39 pmbribery, campaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Sac Bee: In more than a decade of campaigns for the California Legislature, San Francisco mayor and secretary of state, state Sen. Leland Yee raised in excess of $5 million. Yet it was a campaign debt only a fraction… Continue reading

“Prosecutors must prove Yee knew money was pay for official acts”

March 27, 2014, 5:44 pmbribery, campaign financeRick Hasen

LA Times: “Campaign contribution cases are the trickiest,” said Dennis Riordan, one of San Francisco’s top appellate criminal defense lawyers. The Supreme Court has ruled that “people are entitled to donate to candidates to influence their actions and candidates… Continue reading

“Charlotte Mayor Patrick Cannon resigns after arrest on corruption charges”

March 26, 2014, 8:33 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

News and Observer story. On Jan. 17, 2013, agents met Cannon at a SouthPark apartment rented by agents for $2,100 a month. It was outfitted with secret recording equipment. That day, the undercover agent gave Cannon the $12,500 in cash… Continue reading

California State Senator, Candidate for Sec. of State, Arrested on Bribery and Corruption Charges

March 26, 2014, 8:23 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Early reports.

Allegations Pa. Democratic Legislator Took Bribe in Sting Connected to Voter ID Law Vote

March 19, 2014, 7:37 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

I expect we will be hearing more of this Philadelphia Inquirer report. I have to say that the idea that you would have to bribe Pa. Democratic legislators to vote against a voter id bill sounds odd to say the… Continue reading

“Calderon indictment could affect other races, supermajority”

February 21, 2014, 6:33 pmbribery, chicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

This CA news was expected, but it is still BIG.

“Dershowitz, Law Enforcement Experts Slam D’Souza Targeting”

January 30, 2014, 7:27 ambribery, campaign finance, campaignsRick Hasen

NewsMax reports. The article misquotes me slightly. I did not say that the Ted Stevens and Tom DeLay cases were examples of political targeting by overzealous prosecutors. I said that one could not discount that possibility.

“Political Corruption in the United States: A Design Draft”

January 27, 2014, 7:45 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Amitai Etzioni has posted this draft on SSRN (PS: Political Science and Politics). Here is the abstract: To establish the scope and level of corruption in the contemporary United States, a collaborative project of political scientists is called for. Such… Continue reading

“It Only Seems That Political Corruption Is Rampant”

January 26, 2014, 8:47 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT reports.

“Experts: McDonnell Corruption Difficult to Prove in Court”

January 22, 2014, 5:43 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo reports. MORE: NYT Dahlia Lithwick

“Former Va. Gov. McDonnell and wife charged in gifts case”

January 21, 2014, 12:55 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

WaPo: Former Virginia governor Robert F. McDonnell and his wife Maureen were charged Tuesday with illegally accepting gifts, luxury vacations and large loans from a wealthy Richmond-area businessman who sought special treatment from state government. Authorities alleged that McDonnell… Continue reading