The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down part of a federal anti-corruption law that makes it a crime for state and local officials to take gifts valued at more than $5,000 from a donor who had previously been awarded lucrative contracts or other government benefits thanks to the efforts of the official.
By a 6-3 vote, the justices overturned the conviction of a former Indiana mayor who asked for and took a $13,000 payment from the owners of a local truck dealership after he helped them win $1.1 million in city contracts for the purchase of garbage trucks.
In ruling for the former mayor, the justices drew a distinction between bribery, which requires proof of an illegal deal, and a gratuity that can be a gift or a reward for a past favor. They said the officials may be charged and prosecuted for bribery, but not for taking money for past favors if there was no proof of an illicit deal.
I’m not saying the system is rigged, but what’s a few million extra
briberylobbying dollars out of your corporate budget when it means that you can secure your goal of reduced government oversight? It’s not like you have to do this for any other political candidate than the Republican and Democratic nominees either, since you know news outlets will make sure to not platform and illigitimize any independent party that’s a threat to their own financial interests.