Courthouse News Service: Political Rogues' Gallery Braces for SCOTUS Ruling
The Campaign Legal Center's deputy executive director Tara Malloy predicted that the Supreme Court would avoid such a sweeping constitutional ruling in McDonnell's case.
"Maybe I'm too hopeful," Malloy said glumly.
Malloy also noted that McDonnell faced seven charges under the Hobbs Act that do not apply to Skelos or Silver, who were charged with bribery, extortion and other charges.
The high court's traditionally liberal justices preferred to address the conduct seen in McDonnell's case and similar ones, Malloy said, by tightening regulations surrounding political gifts rather than using the blunt instrument of criminal prosecution.
"We would say that you should go at it both ways," she added.