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The petition Investigate Chris Dodd and the MPAA for bribery after he publicly admitted to bribing politicans to pass legislation implies that there is something illegal about this threat to withdraw campaign contributions to politicians:

"Those who count on quote 'Hollywood' for support need to understand that this industry is watching very carefully who's going to stand up for them when their job is at stake. Don't ask me to write a check for you when you think your job is at risk and then don't pay any attention to me when my job is at stake," This is an open admission of bribery and a threat designed to provoke a specific policy goal.

Surely lobbying is intended to promote one's goals; are there specific legal limitations to tying a campaign contribution to a political goal ("designed to provoke a specific policy goal")?

Sklivvz
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Larry OBrien
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    As soon as I posted this, I realized that it's not about scientific skepticism, but is more of a straightforward legal question. Can't find a better stackexchange, though... Maybe history? – Larry OBrien Jan 24 '12 at 00:23
  • Legal questions are on-topic, for as long as they are about a specific legal claim. – Borror0 Jan 24 '12 at 00:58
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    please remember the [united-states] tag for US-specific questions... – Sklivvz Jan 24 '12 at 01:02
  • I think this one is more about politics than the law. I agree that the petition implies there may be something illegal but the answer would be pure politics. – Chad Jan 24 '12 at 14:09
  • There used to be a legal SE, but I think it went underwater. – user5341 Jan 24 '12 at 16:13
  • No cites (so not an answer) but isn't that how nearly ALL campaign contributions - including from individuals - work? IIRC anti-DATD community made similar threats about not doing enough about DADT. – user5341 Jan 24 '12 at 16:14
  • @Chad I'm only asking if there is something about such statements that could be construed as illegal, not *whether* there should or should not be constraints. – Larry OBrien Jan 24 '12 at 18:15
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    @LarryOBrien - That does not have to be illegal for an investigation to start. And while investigating activities that turn out to be legal they may find activities that could be construed as illegal, especially in the world of lobbying where the laws regulating are complicated, conflicting, and obtuse(On purpose I believe). – Chad Jan 24 '12 at 18:19
  • There is a word for giving an official money to do something you want - and the word is 'bribery'. 'Lobbying' means trying to *persuade* an official to do something you want, and is very different. – DJClayworth Nov 09 '12 at 13:48

1 Answers1

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It is illegal to tie a contribution to a demand or to accept such a deal.

Under the Hobbs Act (DOJ summary), further clarified in Evans v. United States, an elected official cannot obtain a payment, solicited or not, in exchange for an official act. The payer must make it clear to the payee that the payment is in exchange for the official act. Subsequent actions don't bear on the legality.

From the other perspective it is illegal if it qualifies as Bribing a Public Official.

The recent legal trouble of Jack Abramoff is extremely relevant and points out the gap between the law and its enforcement.

Edit: I was pretty focused on the title question and forgot that in the text of your question you focus on a petition making a specific claim. I'm not trying to answer if that specific claim is legal or illegal.

JaseMachine
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