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Judge tosses bribery convictions in ComEd Four case, prosecutors indicate a new trial may not be necessary

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* Lawyers in the ComEd Four case were back in court this morning to see whether Judge Manish Shah would pause proceedings after President Donald Trump ordered a review of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Jason Meisner from the Tribune

Judge Shah is on the bench, and says the motion for a stay will not be granted because given where the case is at, resources will not be conserved if it's paused.

— Jason Meisner (@jmetr22b) March 3, 2025

* But

#BREAKING A judge has tossed four of nine counts in the ComEd bribery case due to the U.S. Supreme Court's Snyder ruling. https://t.co/zyAxzRofju pic.twitter.com/HmQNpQNXPT

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) March 3, 2025

Judge Shah asks prosecutors about how they want to proceed. AUSA Amarjeet Bhachu says he wants to speak to leadership, but they'd likely want to proceed to sentencing.

He says the guidelines on the remaining counts is still life.

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) March 3, 2025

Some of the remaining counts are tied to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. President Trump has ordered enforcement of it paused.

Bhachu makes clear the office "will comply with whatever instructions we receive from Main Justice."

— Jon Seidel (@SeidelContent) March 3, 2025

* The four were found guilty on all of these counts

Counts 3, 4, 7 and 9 are under the currently paused Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 78dd-1).

posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:47 am

Comments

  1. So assuming 2, 5, 6, and 8 got ditched by Snyder and 3, 4, 7, and 9 are on pause, that leaves 1?

    Comment by blurry eyed Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 11:58 am

  2. Damn you Snyder.

    Comment by Macon Deliberations Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:07 pm

  3. Very cool that the Federal government is moving us towards legalizing corruption.

    Comment by NIU Grad Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:10 pm

  4. Even though the Judge upheld the other counts- i would assume the defendants will on appeal argue the counts they were convicted on were tainted by the inclusion in the overall indictment of the now reversed bribery counts- IMO the defendants who i have no sympathy for could not have received a fair trial as who knows whether the jury would have convicted if the bribery counts were not part of the case

    Comment by Sue Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:18 pm

  5. === that leaves 1? ===

    Appears so.

    Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:20 pm

  6. I thought I had that “differences between right and wrong” down. I’m not sure now.

    Comment by levivotedforjudy Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:20 pm

  7. Isn’t Count 1 just a nested Conspiracy count with Section 666 (Snyder bribery) and FCPA crimes inside it? Seems like those would get dismissed/paused, too.

    Comment by Chambananon Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:25 pm

  8. Another dark day for Illinois

    Comment by Lincoln Lad Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:31 pm

  9. “I thought I had that “differences between right and wrong” down. I’m not sure now.”

    At 56 I’ve never been less sure of anything in this world than I am at this time.

    Comment by Flyin' Elvis'-Utah Chapter Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:32 pm

  10. ===Very cool that the Federal government is moving us towards legalizing corruption.===

    Been going on at least since SCOTUS, in 1987’s McNally v. United States, overturned the law used to convict Otto Kerner.

    Comment by Anyone Remember Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:48 pm

  11. Does this mean ComEd get some of their(our) $300 million back?
    Seems like this 10+ year slog starting to unravel. Might have been better to prosecute actual crimes.

    Comment by Annonin' Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:49 pm

  12. Ever sense the Rostenkowski prosecution I’ve heard old-timers lament that the accused in a lot of different political corruption cases was “just doing what everyone did for generations and suddenly it became illegal.”

    Seems like thanks to the Roberts Court and the Trump Justice Department, a heck of a lot of shady stuff is legal again.

    Comment by TNR Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:50 pm

  13. Meh. Corruption is “IN” in today’s MAGA Merica. This was Penny-ante compared to the experts operating at the national level. Focus is now on Mom and Pop Garcia and political opposition to the powers that be. Long Live the King.

    Comment by Norseman Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 12:59 pm

  14. Seems like this will never end.
    The Judge has convictions to use to sentence these criminals. Would like to see them sentenced to long sentences in prison, denied bail and get this case on to appeal if that is warranted.

    Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 1:13 pm

  15. “Would like to see them sentenced to long sentences in prison, denied bail and get this case on to appeal if that is warranted.”

    Society is not good with this “whiskey for my men, beer for my horses” type justice in any other realm besides white collar crime, an area of law right now that’s beyond murky and there exists multiple double standards. Don’t get it.

    Comment by dead horse beater Monday, Mar 3, 25 @ 1:55 pm

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