Editorial Board
The See-No-Evil Supreme Court
The justices have defined political corruption too narrowly. Voters should demand action from Congress.
He'll take it.
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty ImagesThe best way to reduce corruption, according to the U.S. Supreme Court, is to define it so narrowly that no one can be found guilty of committing it.
On Monday, the court unanimously tossed out a verdict reached by a Virginia jury finding former Governor Bob McDonnell guilty of improperly assisting vitamin salesman Jonnie Williams. Williams lavished McDonnell and his family with $175,000 in money and gifts, including $15,000 for his daughter’s wedding and $10,000 for another daughter’s engagement. McDonnell helped Williams by convening meetings, hosting receptions and pestering his staff for updates about Williams’s business requests.