Category Archives: bribery

“After Years of Investigation, a Sudden Folding of the Case Against Menendez”

February 4, 2018, 9:00 pmbribery, Department of JusticeRick Hasen

NYT: Five days after the Department of Justice announced that it would retry Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, the judge in the case all but ripped out its core. Prosecutors, he said in an 53-page opinion, had failed to… Continue reading

“New York Lawyer: Prosecutors Discriminated Against My Client”

January 31, 2018, 4:34 pmbriberyRick Hasen

WSJ reports, with the subhead: “Ex-Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano says it’s unfair to charge him with bribery, but not New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio because a businessman pleaded guilty to bribing both men.”

DOJ Drops Menendez Indictment: What Does It Say About the Supreme Court’s Approach to Political Bribery? Not What You May Think

January 31, 2018, 9:23 ambribery, Department of Justice, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

News today that DOJ, after a hung jury the last time, has dropped the remaining charges against Sen. Menendez (some were dropped by the judge after the first trial). Much of the reason for the problems with the charges… Continue reading

NYC: “2 Donors Plead Guilty, but the Mayor Is Not Charged. Why?”

January 28, 2018, 9:37 ambribery, campaign financeRick Hasen

Interesting New York Times report on Mayor De Blasio. Something stinks.

“Judge tosses 7 of 18 counts against Menendez and Melgen”

January 25, 2018, 7:08 ambriberyRick Hasen

Politico: A federal judge has acquitted Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez and co-defendant Salomon Melgen on seven of the 18 counts they were tried on last year, just days after the Justice Department announced its intent to try the duo again… Continue reading

“Campaign Donor Pleaded Guilty to Trying to Bribe Mayor de Blasio”

January 25, 2018, 7:04 ambribery, campaign financeRick Hasen

NYT: A campaign donor to Mayor Bill de Blasio secretly pleaded guilty in federal court to bribery, admitting that he used his contributions to the mayor to try to win favorable lease terms for a restaurant he owned on city… Continue reading

“It may ‘smell bad,’ but Long Beach mayor’s deal-making doesn’t break the law, experts say”

January 22, 2018, 9:39 pmbriberyRick Hasen

Long Beach Press Telegram: Legal scholars say even if Fox or another candidate dropped out of the race because of a deal struck, it would have been within the law. “You may think possibly this smells bad,” said Daniel Hays… Continue reading

“Illinois Democrats ask U.S. Supreme Court to hear Blagojevich’s appeal”

December 7, 2017, 12:24 pmbribery, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Chicago Sun-Times: A group of high-profile Illinois Democrats have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s case. In an amicus brief filed Monday, the who’s who list of current and former Illinois Democratic congressional delegation members… Continue reading

“Pennsylvania Congressman Is Under F.B.I. Scrutiny, Court Records Show”

November 21, 2017, 8:21 pmbriberyRick Hasen

NYT: The F.B.I. is investigating whether Representative Robert A. Brady of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, illegally paid a political opponent $90,000 to drop out of a 2012 primary race, court documents show. Two of Mr.… Continue reading

“Why Are Corruption Cases Crumbling? Some Blame the Supreme Court”

November 19, 2017, 4:05 pmbriberyRick Hasen

NYT: The trend began in 1999 when a Supreme Court case called United States v. Sun Diamond Growers of California chipped away at the government’s ability to prosecute officials for taking what are known as gratuities — or minor gifts… Continue reading

“Corruption Case Against Senator Menendez Ends in Mistrial”

November 16, 2017, 9:51 pmbriberyRick Hasen

NYT: The federal corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey ended in a mistrial on Thursday after jurors said they were unable to reach a verdict, leaving Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, free to return to Congress but injecting… Continue reading

“Excused Menendez Juror: He’s Not Guilty”

November 9, 2017, 4:03 pmbriberyRick Hasen

AP: A juror who was excused from the bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez on Thursday gave a glimpse into deliberations, saying most jurors favor acquittal and that she would have cast a not-guilty vote for the New Jersey Democrat… Continue reading

“Has the Supreme Court Legalized Public Corruption?

October 20, 2017, 7:35 ambriberyRick Hasen

Important Matt Ford in The Atlantic: Menendez has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyers argue the favors don’t rise to the newly heightened standard of official acts. Federal prosecutors, for their part, argue that the stream of benefits that flowed… Continue reading

“Menendez Trial Judge Rejects Motion to Dismiss the Case”

October 16, 2017, 7:22 pmbriberyRick Hasen

NYT: The federal corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez resumed Monday after a judge rejected a motion by the defense to dismiss the case based on a major Supreme Court decision last year that overturned the corruption conviction against a… Continue reading