Newt Gingrich Newt Gingrich Promises Palin a Presidential Appointment and Commits a Felony

Doubt it...

The law says you can't promise a position in exchange for someones support; Palin has already given her support to Gingrich.

Yes, but if he offered her the position in exchange for the voters' support..... I think the statute was written to avoid Chicago-style political favors, but it's an interesting question.
 
This came up earlier with Bolton or Kissinger or whatever. No, it's not illegal and shouldn't be. If he bribed her that's one thing, but suggesting people would be welcome in your administration is not even close.
 
This came up earlier with Bolton or Kissinger or whatever. No, it's not illegal and shouldn't be. If he bribed her that's one thing, but suggesting people would be welcome in your administration is not even close.

This.
 
He might not have violated it since the interview was after he procured the support.
 
I would be funny if Newt was convicted without trial, and than Newt complains about "legal rights". :D
 
Meh, they get away with murdering and kidnapping millions of people, including American Citizens. A little public bribe won't stick.
 
Newt Gingrich Promises Palin a Presidential Appointment and Commits a Felony
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/...pointment-and-Commits-a-Felony?via=siderecent

Message from Newt Gingrich:

All applicants for cabinet positions need to immediately get in line behind Sarah.


Last night Palin endorsed Gingrich in the South Carolina primary.

“If I had to vote in South Carolina, in order to keep this thing going I’d vote for Newt and I would want this to continue”

This afternoon, as a reward for that endorsement, in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer Gingrich promised to give Palin a presidential appointment.

http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/01/18/exp-tsr-gingrich-palin-intv.cnn

CNN Press Room

...I was honored and delighted last night when she said if she were in South Carolina, she’d vote for Newt Gingrich....

...I would ask her to consider taking a major role in the next administration if I’m president...


Clearly Gingrich is sending the message to all the other top-level GOP celebrities, that no matter how unqualified you are, that if you are willing to help him win the South Carolina primary, you too will be rewarded with a presidential appointment.

Johnny, tell our candidate what that promise earns him. Well, Newt for that clear violation of 18 U.S.C. § 599 you've earned yourself two years in jail (unless the violation was unintentional, in which case it's only a single year in jail).

TITLE 18 > PART I > CHAPTER 29 > § 599

§ 599. Promise of appointment by candidate

Whoever, being a candidate, directly or indirectly promises or pledges the appointment, or the use of his influence or support for the appointment of any person to any public or private position or employment, for the purpose of procuring support in his candidacy shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if the violation was willful, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

Note that presence of the word "indirectly". I think promising Palin her Quid Pro Quo via Wolf Blitzer's TV show comes under the heading of an indirect promise.

I was getting groceries late afternoon and got joking around with her about this and that. She was older and maybe native american. When she handed m th bills for change I sid "I wish thy would stop giving me this counterfeit crap..Ya know John Lennon said forty years ago..ya never give me your money..you always give me your funny paper..etc.." She laughed and I said "Ron will put a stop to this".. She perked up and said "Ya know Gingrich offered Palin the Vice Presidency and that is against the law" Well first danged time I heard about it. We talked about the ABC interview tonite and tossed the words crooks and circumstances back and forth. She was the right age to be a responsible adult when Newt scourged the country from the power of his Georgia seat.. On the way out I told her Ron already won in the end. She nodded smiling. She is getting bumper sticker next trip.

Rev9
 
Doubt it...

The law says you can't promise a position in exchange for someones support; Palin has already given her support to Gingrich.

It says "for the purpose of procuring support." It doesn't just mean Palin's support. If he did it to impress Palin's followers, then the law still applies, and he still broke it. In other words, it doesn't just mean that individual's support. It means if he promises her an appointment in order to get more of her supporters to vote for him so that she will have a spot in the next administration. That's a felony and Gingrich is guilty, no question.
 
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