united-states
Is there any precedent for Gov. Lepage&#39;s &quot;blackmail&quot; allegations?
<p>Gov Lepage allegedly "blackmailed" a Democrat in his state (Maine) by threatening to withhold government funds from a charter school unless the school board denied a prominent Democrat a seat on their board.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2015/06/24/house-speaker-eves-fired-from-school-for-at-risk-youth-accuses-lepage-of-blackmailing-school/" rel="nofollow">http://www.pressherald.com/2015/06/24/house-speaker-eves-fired-from-school-for-at-risk-youth-accuses-lepage-of-blackmailing-school/</a></p>

<p>Is there any precedent that would suggest (either way) that this is "blackmail", or "extortion", which is the word I think his critics are searching for?</p>

<p>"Blackmail" isn't usually the wording used in statutes. Statutes generally refer to coercion or extortion.</p>

<p>In Texas, Rick Perry (who at the time was Governor), threatened to withhold 7.5 million dollars in state funding if a particular official did not resign. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Lehmberg" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>, <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/state-politics/20150724-coercion-charge-against-rick-perry-tossed-out-by-texas-appeals-court.ece" rel="nofollow">Dallas News</a>)</p>

<p>This is still in the middle of litigation, but an appeals court found a charge of coercion of a public official was improper. A charge of improper use of his office is proceeding to trial. (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/24/one-of-two-charges-against-rick-perry-is-dismissed/?_r=0" rel="nofollow">New York Times</a>)</p>

<p>"Extortion" charges are generally related to actually seeking money, property, or services.</p>

<p>For example, former Illinois Governor, Rob Blagojevich was convicted of extortion (<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/28/us/28blagojevich.html" rel="nofollow">New York Times</a>, <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-06-27/news/ct-met-blagojevich-verdict-06-20110627_1_political-corruption-crime-spree-abraham-lincoln-roll-jury-convicts" rel="nofollow">Chicago Tribune</a>). Extortion charges were related to Blagojevich holding up a grant for a school in congressman's district until that congressman held a fundraiser for Blagoevich. He also threatened to hold up hospital funding until that hospital's CEO made a donation to his campaign.</p>
