Lawyers for former House speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi and a lobbyist who were found guilty of political corruption in 2011 will ask a federal appeals court Tuesday to overturn the convictions, in a case that could help to redefine the standards for political bribery in federal courts across the country.
Lawyers for DiMasi and his good friend, lobbyist Richard McDonough, will argue that a 2010 Supreme Court decision redefining what constitutes bribery should apply to their case and that they should be acquitted under the new standard.
Comments
The court should apply the Massachusetts Rule- if it ain't nailed down, it's available for politicians to steal.
Yet another Mass Politician thinking he is above the law.
Every member of the Commonwealth's Legislature is dirty. Di Maisi, though guilty, was a scapegoat. Where's the equity!?
Can't go with the "everyone steals, why are you hasseling me"...
Even if you cant get them all, you got to get the one's you can.....
I believe that focusing on the question of equity here would be a singularly bad reason to vacate diMasi's conviction. Breaking the law is still breaking the law.
Sal got a bad deal. He was totally discriminated against because he is of italian descent. If he was Irish he would never have been convicted.