Supreme Court overturns ex-mayor’s bribery conviction, narrowing scope of public corruption law
The Supreme Court has overturned the bribery conviction of a former Indiana mayor in an opinion that narrows the scope of public corruption law
By Lindsay Whitehurst
Published - Jun 26, 2024, 10:16 AM ET
Last Updated - Jun 26, 2024, 10:16 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court overturned the bribery conviction of a former Indiana mayor on Wednesday in an opinion that narrows the scope of public corruption law.
The high court sided 6-3 with James Snyder, who was convicted of taking $13,000 from a trucking company after prosecutors said he steered about $1 million worth of city contracts their way.
Snyder, a Republican, has maintained his innocence, saying the money was payment for consulting work.
His attorneys argued before the high court that prosecutors hadn’t proved there was a “quid pro quo” exchange agreement before the contracts were awarded, and prosecuting officials for gratuities given after the fact unfairly criminalizes normal gift giving.
