jon_berzerk
Platinum Member
- Mar 5, 2013
- 31,401
- 7,370
- 1,130
"conspiracy against the United States"
READ: Paul Manafort And Rick Gates Indicted On 12 Counts
Ex-Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort charged with 'conspiracy against the United States'
What the hell is "conspiricay against the United States?"
Exacty what it says.
The first allegation against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates is "conspiracy against the United States".
But what does it mean?
The detail is spelled out in the US Code of Laws - Title 18, Chapter 19, Section 371.
What does the law say?
Firstly, you cannot be charged with conspiracy alone. The law is used against "two or more people" - in this case, Mr Manafort and Mr Gates.
Secondly, the law is broad. It can be used against a group who "commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose".
In a 1924 case, Hammerschmidt v. United States, Chief Justice William Taft (who was US President from from 1909 to 1913) defined "defraud".
"To conspire to defraud the United States means primarily to cheat the Government out of property or money," he said.
"But it also means to interfere with or obstruct one of its lawful governmental functions by deceit, craft or trickery, or at least by means that are dishonest."
The last paragraph is telling. It could certainly pertain to collusion with a foreign govt in an effort to influence an election.It looks like a count they could all be charged with.
So, not paying your taxes, and getting your accountant to help, is a "conspiracy against the United States?".
In other words, it's a bullshit chart the feds use for piling on.
It's meaningless - nothing for snowflakes to soil their panties over.
be ready for some serious leftarded butt hurt