2007-04-07 15:00:27 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
At common law, extortion was the payment of an illegal bribe, the acceptance of an illegal bribe, or the demand for an illegal bribe, to or by a public official.
The etiology of "Extortion" is Norman French which means to twist from outside.
In time the crime was expanded to include blackmail.
Blackmail is the making of a demand by one person (the extortionist) to another person (the victim) to do something against their will under a threat to do something to the victim, someone near to the victim, or to expose the victim to ridicule in the community, or threaten to have the victim arrested for a crime, real or imaginary.
The reason why extortion is considered both a bribery crime and a blackmail crime, is because the person making the demand is called an "extortionist" or one who "twists from outside."
Hope that answers your question.
2007-04-07 16:13:23 · answer #1 · answered by krollohare2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A good example of extortion is a "protection racket" often associated with the mafia - give them money or your business will be burned down, or you will be harmed.
A playground bully who takes another kid's lunch money in exchange for not beating him up has also committed extortion. Any time someone demands money, property, or services from another using coercion or intimidation, it is extortion.
Note - the Bill Cosby example above is not extortion, but blackmail. Blackmail is a threat that you will do something legal unless paid (such as release photos to the press), while extortion is threating something illegal such as violence.
2007-04-07 15:08:57 · answer #2 · answered by RogerKW 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When the daughter of the woman Bill Cosby had an affair with years ago tried to extort money from him to keep quite about it. He told her to come to his office and he would write her a check and he had the law waiting on her.
2007-04-07 15:06:21 · answer #3 · answered by Diana 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A gang requiring protection money from local business owners or they will damage the business. Or I will give you a good grade if you sleep with me. Or I won't arrest you for this if you pay me $1000.
2007-04-07 16:04:54 · answer #4 · answered by sfs18 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Federal Income tax.
2007-04-07 15:29:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Pay me or I'll accuse you of sexually abusing me when I was 12." "Give me a bj and I won't arrest you." "If you fire me, I'll tell your wife about our 'business trip' to Florida."
2007-04-07 15:05:45 · answer #6 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋