In McDonnell v. United States, 579 U.S. 550 (2016), this Court set very clear prosecutorial and judicial standards in criminal proceedings involving bribery associated with an official act. The D.C. Circuit, in its precedential ruling in United States v. Paitsel, 147 F.4th 1010 (CADC 2025), ignored those standards set forth in McDonnell by this Court and therefore created very ambiguous boundaries in this type of matter.

Did the D.C. Circuit err and therefore set forth a dangerous precedent?

Did the D.C. Circuit, through its errors, thereby create a judicial crisis and a dangerous situation within the D.C. Circuit, in addition to a negative influence upon other United States courts of appeals?

Did the D.C. Circuit err in its interpretation of McDonnell v. United States regarding prosecutorial standards in bribery cases?