Six Republican Justices, already embroiled in scandal for receiving millions in “gifts” from oligarchs with business before the Supreme Court, overturned the clear will of Congress today to legalize bribery-after-the-fact. Or as they call it, “gratuities.”
Justice Jackson, dissenting, has some choice words: (1/5)
"Officials who use their public positions for private gain threaten the integrity of our most important institutions. Greed makes governments—at every level—less responsive, less efficient, and less trustworthy from the perspective of the communities they serve.” (2/5)
The convicted official’s “absurd and atextual reading of the statute is one only today’s Court could love. Ignoring the plain text of §666—which, again, expressly targets officials who ‘corruptly’ solicit, accept, or agree to accept payments ‘intending to be influenced or rewarded’—the Court concludes that the statute does not criminalize gratuities at all.” (3/5)
"The Court’s reasoning elevates nonexistent federalism concerns over the plain text of this statute and is a quintessential example of the tail wagging the dog.”
The Republican majority “overrides the intent of Congress—and the policy preferences of the constituents that body represents—as unequivocally expressed by the plain text of the statute.” (4/5)
“If one simply accepts what the statute says it covers—local officials who corruptly solicit, accept, or agree to accept rewards in connection with official business worth over a certain amount—Snyder’s case is an easy one. Perhaps that is why the majority spends so little time describing it.”
Jackson has receipts. She has done the work. If Kavanaugh (writing for the majority) had any capacity for shame, he would be ashamed. (5/5)