Former Cuomo aide sought $315,000 from corporations.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week for the request to overturn bribery and fraud convictions brought against a former aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. Joseph Percoco was charged with bribery in 2016 after seeking $315,000 to aid two corporations. He pled guilty to those charges in 2018 and was sentenced to six years of prison. However, Percoco’s lawyers allege that federal political bribery charges should not apply to him because he is not technically a politician.
Justice Clarence Thomas seemed receptive to these arguments, stating, “It seems as though we are using a federal law to impose ethical standards on state activity.” However, Justice Elena Kagan suggested that this interpretation of the law was ripe for abuse, allowing politicians to simply step down from office to accept bribes before stepping back in again.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the justices of the Supreme Court as they hear and deliberate cases.
- For discernment for the justices as they interpret and apply federal law in their decisions.
- For all the judges in the federal judiciary to be impartial in their rulings.
Sources: AP, Reuters
