Supreme Court Narrows Public Corruption Law, Overturns Ex-Mayor’s Bribery Conviction
The Supreme Court has overturned the bribery conviction of former Indiana mayor James Snyder, narrowing the scope of public corruption law. Snyder was convicted for accepting $13,000 from a trucking company, with prosecutors alleging he directed approximately $1 million in city contracts to the company. His defense maintained that the money was for consulting work and argued that prosecutors failed to prove a "quid pro quo" arrangement before the contracts were awarded.
The decision was rendered by a 6-3 majority, continuing a trend of limiting the government's use of broad federal laws in public corruption cases. The Justice Department contended that the law covers gifts given "corruptly" to public officials as rewards for favorable treatment. However, Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, stated that while such gratuities might be unethical or illegal under other statutes, they do not violate the specific law under which Snyder was charged.
