American Grifters

‘There is no doubt this case is distasteful. It may be worse than that.”

So wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in a unanimous Supreme Court decision last month that vacated the conviction of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell, who had received various lavish gifts from supporters, on corruption charges. But, Roberts went on, “setting up a meeting, hosting an event, or calling an official (or agreeing to do so)” does not constitute the sort of quid pro quo that would constitute official corruption.