Supreme Court Vacates Ex-Virginia Governor’s Graft Conviction

[beuk]

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Monday made it harder to prosecute public officials for corruption, unanimously vacating the conviction of Bob McDonnell, a former governor of Virginia

Comments

[blackjedii]

-.-;

[beuk]

Thought of you when I heard about it.

[blackjedii]

that is a sad sad thing to relate to me like why not fuzzy animals or muffins or something!!

[beuk]

Only because I know you live in VA!

I associate you with Depeche Mode and football/soccer much more strongly.

[blackjedii]

it's even more ironic bc before he got the governorship, the McDonnells are pretty dirt poor and in debt.

Which is half the reason why Maureen was so big on getting the handouts (perhaps moreso than Bob although he's guilty as sin too). Apparently it was just soooo hard for them to be surrounded by people with money while they had to rely on cheap clothes and shoes.

As I cry into my $10.00 Kohl's jacket here.

[pairatime]

So if the 'gifts' were not illegal (and why wouldn't they? That part needs to change) then what did he do? Because from the article all I'm getting he is held a few public events and added some guy to the guest list. What else did he do?

[fishphile]

He tried to push this guy's products on the state in various ways (iirc they approached one of the big schools for validation like UVA--it's been awhile since I read the initial report and I'm lazy now). It just so happens that almost everyone else was like, "New phone. Who dis?" about it and ignored the pressure so technically he didn't get any support for the products. The problem was McDonnell really tried to push them and it's clear he did it because he was given a bunch of expensive stuff.

[pairatime]

okay so he was acting like the company's sales rep while being governor. Okay. I can see where that would be hard to prove of he wasn't very good at it. if they were using the product all over the sate it would be easy but if no one bought it...I feel for those prosecutors.

[fishphile]

The prosecutors initially won. This is just bs to be honest.

[tanglespiders]

lol of course. It's only corruption if the check says "THIS IS A BRIBE 😘" in the memo and you have "quid pro quo" tattooed on your knuckles.

When people talk about being disaffected and feeling left behind, it's shit like this, knowing that your concerns won't be taken as seriously (if listened to at all) unless they come packaged with a Rolex and $50,000 loan, and it's basically impossible to punish elected officials from profitting from their positions. And also knowing that certain people can get out of prison by claiming it would be super inconvenient and harsh. A jury of Virginians convicted their governor, and it's shameful that the court vacated it because they're inured to the exchange of gifts and favors.

[beuk]

Quid pro quo makes for a crowded knuckle tat, lol.

[tanglespiders]

Listen, you have to be willing to awkwardly contort your thumbs to prove your dedication to graft before we'll convict you.