McDonnell and the Criminalization of Politics
Virginia Journal of Criminal Law, Vol 5:1 (2017)
Boston College Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 441
38 Pages Posted: 2 Feb 2017 Last revised: 10 Mar 2017
Date Written: February 1, 2017
Abstract
The article begins with a discussion of the critique in order to put McDonnell in context. In particular, I examine what is new in the debate over how the federal government should handle possible corruption, and the extent to which McDonnell is part of that shift. Part I explores the critique in depth. Part II analyzes the Supreme Court’s decision in McDonnell and its background. As a unanimous decision, McDonnell may be of great significance in how the legal system treats the federal government’s role. Part III offers some speculation on the federal anticorruption enterprise going forward.
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