Document: 526 U.S. 398119 S.Ct. 1402143 L.Ed.2d 576 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.SUN-DIAMOND GROWERS OF CALIFORNIAUNITED STATES SUPREME COURTCertiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For District Columbia Circuit No. 98-131. Argued March 2, 1999Decided April 27, 1999 OCTOBER TERM, 1998 NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as being done in connection with this case, at the time opinion issued. constitutes no part of but has been prepared by Reporter Decisions for convenience reader. See v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. Syllabus: Respondent trade association was charged violating, inter alia, 18 C. §201(c)(1)(A), which prohibits giving "anything value" to present, past, or future public official "for because any act performed such official." Count One indictment asserted that respondent gave illegal gratuities former Secretary Agriculture Michael Espy while two matters had an interest favorable treatment were pending before Espy. did not, however, allege specific between either those (or other action) and conferred. In denying respondent's motion dismiss omission, stated that, sustain §201(c)(1)(A) charge, sufficient defendant provided things value his position. At trial, court instructed jury along these same lines. convicted on One, imposed fine. reversed conviction remanded new stating §201(c)(1)(A)'s act" language means what says, instructions invited convict materially less evidence than statute demands -- gifts driven simply Espy's rejecting attack indictment, Government need not show gratuity given of" particular acts: That relevant him should insulate long required find requisite intent reward past acts make ones more likely. Held: 1. order establish violation, must prove link thing conferred upon federal "official given. Government's contention satisfied merely showing position does fit comfortably statutory text, natural meaning some whatever identity." statute's insistence act," carefully defined (in §201(a)(3)), seems pregnant requirement identified proved. alternative reading would produce peculiar results, criminalizing, e.g., token President based linked identifiable replica jerseys championship sports teams each year during ceremonial White House visits. Although, under narrow interpretation, could regarded having (perhaps principally) receiving House, receipt assuredly sense "action [a] matter . official, [his] capacity, place trust profit" within §201(a)(3) definition. its interpretation only one gives effect forward-looking prohibition selectees office rejected section can readily applied persons even interpretation. Pp. 5-10. 2. Court's holding supported fact when Congress wanted adopt broadly prophylactic criminal gift giving, so precise administrable fashion. See, §209(a). Finally, narrow, rather sweeping, compatible strand intricate web regulations, both administrative criminal, governing acceptance self-enriching actions officials. Because area where precisely targeted prohibitions are commonplace, general have qualified numerous exceptions, linguistically interpreted meat axe scalpel reasonably taken latter. 10-14. 3. rejects mistaken concerning scope essentially incorrectly substituted term position" constituted harmless error. argument jury's verdict rendered pursuant necessarily included finding received " restatement flawed premise permeated themselves herein rejected. 14-16. 138 F. 3d 961, affirmed. Scalia, J., delivered unanimous Court. Below: F.3d 961 by: Justice Scalia OPINION THE COURT: 1 On Writ Certiorari 2 Talmudic sages believed Judges who accepted bribes punished eventually losing all knowledge divine law. Federal Government, dealing many officials Judges, least whom sanction holds terror, constructed framework human laws regulations defining various sorts impermissible gifts, punishing give receive them sanctions, fines, incarceration. element "illegal statute," we consider whether requires beyond recipient's I. 3 engaged marketing lobbying activities behalf member cooperatives, owned approximately 5,000 individual growers raisins, figs, walnuts, prunes, hazelnuts. Petitioner represented Independent Counsel Donald Smaltz, who, consequence investigation Espy, with, making violation §201(c)(1)(A). provides, part, anyone 4 "otherwise law proper discharge duty ... directly indirectly gives, offers, promises anything person selected shall fined title imprisoned years, both." 5 Sun-Diamond $5,900 gratuities: tickets 1993 Open Tennis Tournament (worth $2,295), luggage ($2,427), meals ($665), framed print crystal bowl ($524). alluded from bestowed gratuities. First, cooperatives participated Market Promotion Plan (MPP), grant program administered Department promote sale farm commodities foreign countries. belonged organizations, California Prune Board Raisin Administrative Committee, submitted overseas plans their respective commodities. If approved Agriculture, organizations funds used defraying expenses constituents. Each largest organization, significant MPP funding. understandably concerned, then, promulgate small-sized entities preference obtaining funds. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1993, Pub. L. 103-66, §1302(b)(2)(A), 107 Stat. 330-331. deem entities, there good chance they longer grants. Thus, persuading regulatory definition "small-sized entity" include cooperatives. 6 Second, regulation methyl bromide, low-cost pesticide 1992, Environmental Protection Agency announced rule phase out use bromide States. alleged sought Agriculture's assistance EPA abandon proposed altogether, mitigate impact. latter event, fund research efforts develop reliable alternatives bromide. 7 Although describing interest, action denied omission. 941 Supp. 1262 (DDC 1996). stated: 8 "[T]o charge statute, necessary direct nexus It position." Id., 1265. 9 read twice (along then placed expansive gloss language, saying, among things, "[i]t if unauthorized compensation he held office," "[t]he government all." App. Pet. Cert. 85a, 87a. on, (the subject appeal), sentenced count pay fine $400,000.1 10 stating: 11 "Given `for act' 968 (CADC 1998). 12 "That abundance plate benefactors likely." 969. 13 We granted certiorari. 525 ___ (1998). II. 14 Initially, helpful context scheme. Subsection (a) §201 sets forth definitions applicable including §201(a)(3). Subsections (b) (c) set forth, respectively, separate crimes pairs crimes, counts unlawful different elements authorized punishments. first crime, described §201(b)(1) giver, §201(b)(2) recipient, bribery, something corruptly given, offered, promised (as giver) demanded, sought, received, accepted, agreed recipient) intent, "to influence (giver) return "being influenced performance (recipient). second §201(c)(1)(B) gratuity, giver), recipient), 15 distinguishing feature crime element. Bribery influence" influenced" act, act. words, bribery quid pro quo exchange An hand, may constitute take (and already determined take), taken. punishments prescribed offenses reflect relative seriousness: up years' imprisonment, $250,000 ($500,000 organizations) triple bribe, whichever greater, disqualification office. §§201(b) 3571. Violation imprisonment organizations). §§201(c) 16 differentiating bribe correctly noted proof quo. point controversy here went suggest unlike require satisfied, according instructions, perhaps, example, build reservoir goodwill might ultimately affect multitude unspecified acts, now future. States, Counsel, Solicitor General amicus curiae, contend instruction correct. asserts "section 201(c)(1)(A) reaches effort buy favor generalized been, is, unknown, later time, favorably giver's interests." Brief 22 (emphasis added). contends "gift motivated, capacity exercise governmental power donor's favor" without connected Dept. Amicus Curiae 17 our view, performed" us identity" just question "Do you like composer?" normally possible, course, phrase mean general, specification one" composers, names music?" But meaning, especially complex structure provision here. Why go through trouble requiring made official," §201(a)(3)) "any decision question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding controversy, pending, brought official's capacity," when, correct, sufficed say ability donor executing functions office"? defined, Besides thinking inclined believe correct results produce. criminalize, visits, see, Gail Gibson, Masters Game, Lexington Herald-Leader, Nov. 10, 1998, p. A1. Similarly, criminalize high school principal's baseball cap Education, reason office, occasion latter's visit school. examples fanciful demonstrated counsel maintained oral group farmers violate providing complimentary lunch conjunction speech USDA policy him, prospect, affecting farmers. Tr. Oral Arg. 26-27. course always prospect farmers, college professional sports, Education schools. 19 said reply also results. fact, above-given examples, easily conferred, Secretary, perhaps visiting school, speaking about policy, respectively. answer objection acts" which, noted, defines profit." possible eliminate absurdities term. When, identified, mere tenure nothing discretion prevents foregoing prosecuted. 20 insists language. Specifically, claims construction way yet Because, contends, individuals know come them, interpret envisioning application selectee If, instance, large computer company planned merge another makes chosen Assistant Attorney Antitrust Division publicly indicated approval merger, quite person's anticipated decision, once challenge merger. uncertainty us, principle, impediment prosecution respect officeholder 21 Our refusal donee's Chapter Title 18, chapter entitled "Bribery, Graft, Conflicts Interest," criminalizes "supplementation" Executive salary, regard purpose payment. Other provisions bank employee examiner, examiner employee, loan gratuity," again §§212-213. A Labor Management Relations felony employer union representative, representative employer, value. 29 §186 (1994 ed. III). With clearly books imposing gift-giving gift-receiving specifically most implausible intended pertain naturally suggests) acts. following compensation, consideration representational involved substantial §203; "agent attorney" prosecuting claim against §205(a)(1); appearing virtually tribunal §205(a)(2); types employees engage after completion service, §207; participate relating financial §208; Branch independent agency contribution supplementation salary source States," §209; accept "compromise, adjustment, cancellation indebtedness," §217. Internal Revenue Code settlement complaint" revenue laws. 26 §7214(a)(9). 23 And statutes tip iceberg. §7353, announces "employee executive, legislative, judicial branch solicit whose interests substantially affected nonperformance individual's duties," §7353(a)(2), promulgation ethical rules §7353(b)(1). Pursuant provision, regulates employees' CFR §2635.202 et seq. (1999) (Executive employees); Rule XXXV Standing Rules Senate, Senate Manual, Doc. 104-1 (rev. July 1995) (Senators Employees); XXVI Representatives, 106th Cong. Jan. 7, 1999) (Representatives Research Papers National Commission Judicial Discipline Removal, Conduct Canon 5(C)(4), pp. 925-927 (1993) (federal Judges). 24 All statutes, above contain exceptions kinds donors purposes. Many snares unwary, broad §201(c)(1). interesting (1999), issued Office Ethics (OGE) binding agencies. subsection "General prohibitions," (if precisely) unlawful: "[f]rom prohibited source" (defined "[h]as employee's §2635.203(d)(4) (1999)) "[g]iven position," §2635.202(a)(2). subsection, "Relationship provides: 25 "Unless paragraph (c)(1) [banning `in act'], standards subpart otherwise §201(c)(1)(B)." §2635.202(b) unaware empowering OGE decriminalize Code. Yet clear "accepted [the relevant] subpart" urges accepted. includes, example $20 less, aggregating $50 single calendar year, see §2635.204(a) certain public-service achievement awards honorary degrees, §2635.204(d). frankly sure cause OGE's assurance nonviolation complied entirely accurate; misdirection, any, infinitely less. 27 More important present purposes, regulation, littering field, demonstrate exceptions. Given reality, field Absent text it, ought expand piece puzzle dramatically pieces misfits. As discussed earlier, result; forbids it. III. 28 preserving §§201(c)(1)(A) 201(a)(3), explained substituting act." specifically, follows: "The essence [as] receiver payment agrees do particular, return. Therefore offense committed, official. motivating factor keep happy create better relationship 30 "It 31 "In violating reasonable doubt Mr. solely reasons friendship social purpose. 32 "With Growers knowingly willingly issues Agriculture. 33 "Now gratuities, Secretary's appreciation California's anticipation continuation App 84a-86a, 87a-88a. 34 Upon closer examination, revealed rejected: "By returning guilty verdict, theory defense found motivated exercised authority over business." 44. tersely error, 3d, 968, same. 35 hold affirm judgment Appeals, case trial One. today casts lower courts' resolution sufficiency issue certiorari neither nor granted. leave determine reopened remand. 36 ordered. Footnotes serve five probation stood convicted. Insofar sentence resentencing reporting requirements. 977 us.

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