https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/07/bridgegate-new-jersey-political-pranksters-win-supreme-court/4934370002/
"Supreme Court calls George Washington Bridge high jinks political, not criminal"
"The evidence the jury heard no doubt shows wrongdoing – deception, corruption, abuse of power. But the federal fraud statutes at issue do not criminalize all such conduct," Associate Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court.
"Not every corrupt act by state or local officials is a federal crime," Kagan wrote. "Because the scheme here did not aim to obtain money or property, Baroni and Kelly could not have violated the federal-program fraud or wire fraud laws."
And to top it off, Trump celebrated the news that corruption is now legal in America.
And President Donald Trump sounded off about the decision Thursday afternoon. "Congratulations to former Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, and all others involved, on a complete and total exoneration (with a 9-0 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court)," the president tweeted.
@suzianne said"Supreme Court calls George Washington Bridge high jinks political, not criminal"
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/07/bridgegate-new-jersey-political-pranksters-win-supreme-court/4934370002/
"Supreme Court calls George Washington Bridge high jinks political, not criminal"
"The evidence the jury heard no doubt shows wrongdoing – deception, corruption, abuse of power. But the federal fraud statutes at issue do not criminalize all ...[text shortened]... complete and total exoneration (with a 9-0 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court)," the president tweeted.
"The evidence the jury heard no doubt shows wrongdoing – deception, corruption, abuse of power. But the federal fraud statutes at issue do not criminalize all such conduct," Associate Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the court.
I agree with the spirit of your post Suzianne, and though I'm not happy with it either, this isn't the first time judges and lawyers found a tiny crack in the law to squeeze an otherwise illegal act through. The real solution to all this is to exit Trump and his little minions from the White House. Given the economic situation (which will only grow worse as we approach November) I think this will happen. 🙂
@suzianne saidA criminal statute's elements have to be met before a conviction under it can be upheld.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/07/bridgegate-new-jersey-political-pranksters-win-supreme-court/4934370002/
"Supreme Court calls George Washington Bridge high jinks political, not criminal"
"The evidence the jury heard no doubt shows wrongdoing – deception, corruption, abuse of power. But the federal fraud statutes at issue do not criminalize all ...[text shortened]... complete and total exoneration (with a 9-0 vote by the U.S. Supreme Court)," the president tweeted.
That's all the decision means. It's not a moral judgment on the conduct. You can't misuse an existing criminal law to punish conduct merely because the conduct is morally wrong or "ought to be" illegal.
@mchill saidThe illegal and immoral action is shutting down ststes that are not having issues. It is also illegal to force people out of jobs for no reason.
That's right - laugh it off, but remember. If this decision allows Republicans get away with these otherwise illegal acts, it will also allow Democrats to do the same.
- Still laughing?? 😏
@sh76 saidYou're 100 percent correct. It's just shocking there's nothing on the books to make political corruption in general illegal.
A criminal statute's elements have to be met before a conviction under it can be upheld.
That's all the decision means. It's not a moral judgment on the conduct. You can't misuse an existing criminal law to punish conduct merely because the conduct is morally wrong or "ought to be" illegal.