Category Archives: bribery

“Virginia ex-governor’s corruption case on way to Court”

August 14, 2015, 8:33 ambribery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Lyle Denniston: One of the highest-profile political corruption cases in years will soon be on its way to the Supreme Court. Lawyers for former Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell told a federal appeals court on Thursday that they will… Continue reading

“McDonnell asks to remain free pending appeal to Supreme Court”

August 13, 2015, 4:23 pmbriberyRick Hasen

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

“Blagojevich Appeal Reflects the Right Limits on Prosecution”

August 10, 2015, 7:31 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Steve Klein blogs.

“Ex-Illinois Gov. Blagojevich asks full court to hear appeal”

August 4, 2015, 12:14 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

AP: Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich asked a full federal appellate court in Chicago to rehear his appeal after three judges recently overturned five of his 18 corruption convictions. The imprisoned Democrat’s lawyers filed the request Tuesday with the… Continue reading

“Pillar of Law Calls on Texas Court to Prevent Criminalization of Politics”

July 30, 2015, 12:45 pmbribery, campaign finance, chicaneryRick Hasen

Press release: The Pillar of Law Institute filed an amicus curiae (friend-of-the-court) brief with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in the case Cary v. Texas today, arguing that the Texas Attorney General’s Office unconstitutionally applied the state’s bribery,… Continue reading

“Fattah Buttonholed Obama Directly, According to Indictment”

July 29, 2015, 4:19 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Roll Call: The Department of Justice’s indictment of Rep. Chaka Fattah alleges Fattah’s quid-pro-quo scheme included an in-person effort to get President Barack Obama to give a lobbyist an ambassadorship. Fattah, a powerful Pennsylvania Democrat, is a longtime ally of… Continue reading

“The Troubling Rod Blagojevich Ruling”

July 27, 2015, 8:09 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Ciara Torres-Spelliscy blogs.

“One of Two Charges Against Rick Perry Is Dismissed”

July 24, 2015, 5:38 pmbribery, campaigns, chicaneryRick Hasen

NYT: Former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president, received some good news regarding his legal problems on Friday when an appeals court in his state dropped one of the two felony charges… Continue reading

“The Judging of Politicians by Judges, Part II: Blagojevich in the Seventh Circuit”

July 22, 2015, 7:55 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Bauer on Blagojevich: The Court seems to believe that, where the political trading is for government posts, thecost of public corruption is somehow more limited, more tolerable. It is just a government salary’s worth of political self-dealing. Of course, it… Continue reading

Analysis: 7th Circuit Unanimously Rejects Some Charges Against IL Gov. Blagojevich

July 21, 2015, 12:29 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

You can find the 23-page unanimous decision written by Judge Easterbrook at this link. Given how short this opinion is, it is not clear why there was such a long delay in issuing this opinion. Most of the charge were… Continue reading

Speech or Debate Clause, Citizens United, Weigh Heavily in Sen. Menendez Defense to Bribery

July 21, 2015, 8:47 ambribery, campaign finance, Speech or Debate ClauseRick Hasen

This should be interesting. Even if these claims ultimately fail (which they likely will), it will likely buy the Senator some significant time before potential incarceration.

Bauer Critical of 4th Circuit McDonnell Opinion

July 14, 2015, 6:56 ambribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

Read it here.

Unanimous 4th Circuit Panel Rejects Former Va Gov. McDonnell’s Corruption Appeal

July 10, 2015, 5:46 pmbribery, chicaneryRick Hasen

You can read the 89-page-opinion at this link. A key question on appeal is whether the trial court defined “official act” too broadly for federal bribery law purposes. The 4th Circuit has an extensive discussion of the issue, concluding: “In… Continue reading