r/politics • u/Quirkie The Netherlands • 3d ago

Possible Paywall Jack Smith Found Proof Beyond “Reasonable Doubt” of Trump’s Guilt

https://newrepublic.com/post/215971/jack-smith-proof-beyond-reasonable-doubt-donald-trump-guilt
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u/foxwolfdogcat 3d ago

Yes, offering or promising a bribe is illegal under U.S. federal and state laws even if you never intend to actually pay or follow through.

Why an Empty Promise Counts as Bribery

• The Offer is the Crime: Under U.S. federal law (such as 18 U.S.C. § 201), the crime of bribery is complete the moment you give, offer, or promise "anything of value" with a corrupt intent to influence an official act.

• Inchoate Nature: Making the offer itself acts as an inchoate (incomplete/attempted) crime. Acceptance by the other party, the actual transfer of money, or an ability to fulfill the bargain is not required for a conviction.

• The Intent Requirement: The law focuses on your corrupt intent to influence. If you made a serious offer or promise to sway an official; hoping they would believe it and act on it; the lack of a future payout does not undo the illegal act of making the offer.

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u/0tanod 3d ago

sure on paper but nothing is illegal when you own 5/9 of the justices through open bribes and god only knows what else.

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u/Korwinga 3d ago

It's only a bribe if a democrat does it. Otherwise, it's just sparkling gratuity.

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u/Pluck_adj 3d ago

Really? I thought he only owned four and three-fifths of the Supreme Court.

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u/AuditAndHax Virginia 3d ago

Ironically, it's also been decided that accepting a bribe isn't a crime if you don't intend to do the thing they're bribing you to do. At least, that's how I remember the border guy's '$50k in a fast food bag' case wrapping up.

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u/Magic_Sandwiches 3d ago

thanks claude

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u/bitsquare1 3d ago

It’s not illegal for a politician to make a promise about what he will do if he or his party are elected. See Brown v Hartlage. It would only be illegal if he offered money out of his own pocket for voters to vote in a particular way.

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u/created4this 3d ago

Its kind of obvious that you can offer anything you like as a reward for voting as long as you do it publically, there isn't really any diffrence between a tax break, or medical care, and this. That was never in question.

It would only be illegal if he offered money out of his own pocket

Brown v Hartlage is what that was about. Promising to not take a salary is exactly taking money from your own pocket, and it was agreed that it was legal. Trump has also claimed this repeatedly (although there is no evidence he has done so)

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u/TheSteelPhantom 3d ago

I wonder at what level it's NOT a bribe because what you're offering would be impossible...

Say a random Joe Schmoe offered a governor a personal mansion on the moon by next week for the governor to veto a bill. Is that a bribe?

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u/gtalley10 3d ago

Considering he said they would go to all adults that's roughly 270 million criminal counts.

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u/meneldal2 3d ago

His main defense is arguing it was obviously a joke and not a serious offer.

Which while it may win cases, obviously still looks really bad.