October Term 2019 · Docket 18-1059
Does wasting public funds count as obtaining property under federal fraud laws?
The dispute centers on whether a public official commits fraud by diverting funds for political gain rather than personal profit.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the side that brought the case argued that the government misuses fraud statutes.
the side that brought the case claimed that wasting funds is not obtaining property.
The government argued that political gain constitutes private use.
The government contended that the official acted for personal benefit.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal fraud statutes. The core issue is whether wasting public money qualifies as obtaining property.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-27
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the fraud conviction overturned.
The government wants the fraud conviction upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that wasting funds is not obtaining property.
The government argues that diverting funds for political gain is fraud.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked how wasting property fits the statute.
Justice Ginsburg asked why political benefit is not private use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-9
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of federal fraud power. It determines when public officials face federal charges for political decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-9
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-11
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.