{"id":518097,"date":"2022-11-29T22:33:19","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T19:33:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/scotus-likely-to-toss-conviction-of-ex-cuomo-crony-joe-percoco\/"},"modified":"2022-11-29T22:33:19","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T19:33:19","slug":"scotus-likely-to-toss-conviction-of-ex-cuomo-crony-joe-percoco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/scotus-likely-to-toss-conviction-of-ex-cuomo-crony-joe-percoco\/","title":{"rendered":"#SCOTUS likely to toss conviction of ex-Cuomo crony Joe Percoco"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a4043fe12489\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a4043fe12489\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/scotus-likely-to-toss-conviction-of-ex-cuomo-crony-joe-percoco\/#%E2%80%9CSCOTUS_likely_to_toss_conviction_of_ex-Cuomo_crony_Joe_Percoco%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;SCOTUS likely to toss conviction of ex-Cuomo crony Joe Percoco&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CSCOTUS_likely_to_toss_conviction_of_ex-Cuomo_crony_Joe_Percoco%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;SCOTUS likely to toss conviction of ex-Cuomo crony Joe Percoco&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignleft\">\n        <\/aside>\n<p>The US Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ears poised to overturn the corruption conviction of a former top aide to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a pair of \u201cpay-to-play\u201d fraud schemes.<\/p>\n<p>Both conservative and liberal justices on the high court seemed sympathetic to claims raised on Joe Percoco\u2019s behalf during oral arguments on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>If a majority sides with Percoco and his co-defendants in the infamous \u201cBuffalo Billion\u201d case, it would mark the latest in a string of rulings that have made it harder for the feds to prosecute government officials for alleged corruption.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, Percoco \u2014 whom Cuomo once publicly likened to a brother \u2014 was found guilty of conspiracy to commit \u201chonest services\u201d fraud for pocketing more than $300,000 from execs at two companies doing business with the state.<\/p>\n<p>Percoco maintains that the payments he took in 2014 weren\u2019t bribes because he was on leave from his government job and working for Cuomo\u2019s reelection campaign at the time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/joe-percoco-221129-30-2.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Joe Percoco\" class=\"wp-image-24828982\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/joe-percoco-221129-30-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/joe-percoco-221129-30-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/joe-percoco-221129-30-2.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Joe Percoco, a former top aide to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit \u201chonest services\u201d fraud for pocketing more than $300,000 from execs at two companies doing business with the state.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">R Umar Abbasi<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Defense lawyer Yaakov Roth argued Monday that although Percoco wielded considerable influence due to his \u201cclose relationship to the Cuomo family,\u201d the case against him \u201cstrolls recklessly into a constitutional minefield\u201d that could cover \u201cmany lobbyists and donors and interest groups and others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to agree, calling it an \u201cinteresting public policy question\u201d and asking, \u201cIf the court were to go behind that, is there any stopping point?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis town is full of such persons and presidents have had kitchen cabinets since the beginning of time. And those people are often taken quite seriously in the halls of government, whether they should or not,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/neil-gorsuch-221129-32.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Neil Gorsuch\" class=\"wp-image-24828790\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/neil-gorsuch-221129-32.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/neil-gorsuch-221129-32.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/neil-gorsuch-221129-32.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch seemed to be sympathetic to Percoco\u2019s case.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Justice Department lawyer Nicole Reaves countered that even if Percoco wasn\u2019t technically a government employee, he \u201cwas able to attend internal government meetings that no one else from outside the government was able to attend.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe continued to have key card access. He continued to order his secretary\u2019s former secretary around. He continued to use government phones and offices. And because of this\u2026[he] was operating essentially in the exact same role that he had previously formerly held,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>But liberal Justice Elena Kagan said Reaves was \u201cproposing a test\u201d in which \u201cyou don\u2019t have to be a former official\u201d and \u201cyou don\u2019t need to be a future official.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/andrew-cuomo-221129-31.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Andrew Cuomo\" class=\"wp-image-24828766\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/andrew-cuomo-221129-31.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=1535 1536w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/andrew-cuomo-221129-31.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/andrew-cuomo-221129-31.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all&amp;w=512 512w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"\/><figcaption>Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2018 said Joe Percoco was like a brother to him.<\/figcaption><figcaption><span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think you can give me that test without making it look like the guy is just a really, really good lobbyist,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas also noted that state prosecutors never went after Percoco or his co-defendants, saying, \u201cIt seems as though we are using a federal law to impose ethical standards on state activity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, the Supreme Court unanimously threw out the conviction of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell for honest services fraud, ruling that although he took payments and gifts from a wealthy business owner, he never took any official actions in return.<\/p>\n<p>Two years ago, the entire high court also tossed the wire-fraud convictions of Bridget Kelly and Bill Baroni in New Jersey\u2019s \u201cBridgegate\u201d scandal on grounds that although they corruptly abused their power to snarl traffic in Fort Lee, they \u201cdid not aim to obtain money or property.<\/p>\n<p><em>With Post wires<\/em>\n                        <\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2022\/11\/29\/scotus-likely-to-toss-conviction-of-ex-cuomo-crony-joe-percoco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;SCOTUS likely to toss conviction of ex-Cuomo crony Joe Percoco&#8221; The US Supreme Court appears poised to overturn the corruption conviction of a former top aide to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a pair of \u201cpay-to-play\u201d fraud schemes. Both conservative and liberal justices on the high court seemed sympathetic to claims raised on Joe Percoco\u2019s behalf&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":518098,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/11\/joe-percoco-comp-1.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[136380,70430,136403,89050,110481,110758,70673,134642,71006,109921,83589,71404],"class_list":["post-518097","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-11-29-22","tag-andrew-cuomo","tag-bob-mcdonnell","tag-bridgegate","tag-buffalo-billion","tag-clarence-thomas","tag-corruption","tag-elena-kagan","tag-fraud","tag-joseph-percoco","tag-neil-gorsuch","tag-supreme-court"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518097","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518097"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518097\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518098"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518097"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518097"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518097"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}