Fear includes fear of economic loss or injury, as well as fear of physical violence.
Wrongful use of office to induce payments to or at the direction of a public official will make out an extortion. Fear of economic injury has also been held to include the fear of lost business opportunities, and the fear of loss of one's ability to compete in the marketplace. It is not necessary that the Government prove that a defendant himself benefitted from any extortion. Extortion is proven if the payments are made to a third party, or entity, at the direction of the defendant. Further, only a minimal effect on interstate commerce is required to establish jurisdiction under the Hobbs Act, and the effect can be merely probable or potential, not actual.