Now I understand why you don't have to declare motorhomes, fancy trips and the like.
The mayor of Portage, Indiana had been convicted of accepting $13,000 from a trucking company weeks after being awarded a $1 million towing contract thanks to the mayor's help.
He received his get out of jail Free card from The Supreme Court today. The Mayor argued the payment was an after-the-fact “gratuity” not covered by the federal bribery statute.
The ruling was 6-3 on conservative-liberal ideological lines.
Writing the majority opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, said that ruling otherwise would present an "unfair trap for 19 million state and local officials.”
Wouldn't want that now would we.
Decision. Dissent starts on page 24.
Comments
Apparently, the trend will continue.
I think I'm going to have to hire an attorney who is well versed in such law, and the new ruling, to determine what levels and/or types of bribes I need to avoid for whatever endeavor I/we might choose to be useful and still avoid jail time. The precedent has been set from the highest court in the land, and can now be used in lower court(s).
Side note: regardless of dollar value I/we might be able to bring to Australia or New Zealand, their laws pretty much won't allow us to be there on a permanent basis, due to age. However, the young ones are still able to do the move.................
Not that this house didn't know about political money games, but damn.
What's that saying........'To hell in a hand basket' or similar of your choice.
ADD: various news articles regarding this decision