Is corruption treason?

[MaxP]

Is it?
I.E., the Blagovech(sp?) scandal, is it treason?
Definition of treason from dictionary.com(what's the legal definition?):

1. the offense of acting to overthrow one's government or to harm or kill its sovereign. 2. a violation of allegiance to one's sovereign or to one's state. 3. the betrayal of a trust or confidence; breach of faith; treachery.

It seems to fit under #2 and #3.

Thoughts?

 

[allhart]

Is it?
I.E., the Blagovech(sp?) scandal, is it treason?
Definition of treason from dictionary.com(what's the legal definition?):

It seems to fit under #2 and #3.

Thoughts?

Is corruption treason? maybe exploitable?

 

[Aianna]

I think that while what Blagovitch is simply awful, it's not treason.

My understanding of the modern legal definition of treason is an attempt to overthrow or destroy the government.

What he did was certainly corrupt and damaging, but one would be hard pressed to argue that he was trying to destroy or overthrow the government. Of course this obviously relies solely on my very imperfect knowledge of the legal definition of treason.

 

[dewaddict84]

Naw, he didn't betray us to any other nation or state. I don't think it's treasonous if you steal fort knox and try to hide in the hills. It'd be treason if you tried to hide in Canada and split the loot with them. He's just corrupt.

From a legal standpoint though? I dunno, I don't speak leagalese.

 

[BobW188]

I don't know how the Illinois statute reads; but treason is defined at the federal level as levying war against the United States, or giving aid and comfort to its enemies in time of war.
I think you'll find that most or all state statutes follow this definition. If so, as he did not attempt to overthrow the government of Illinois by force and violence, he is not guilty of treason.