Pensions for convicted elected officials?
December 22, 2014 4:03 PM Subscribe
Do congressmen who have been convicted of felonies still get a pension?
Okay, I know that (assuming the convictions are upheld) my own former governor, Bob McDonnell, will be losing his rights to a governmental pension; but that's the Commonwealth of Virginia, not the federal government. Do congressmen convicted of felonies also lose their pensions? (I'm thinking of Jesse Jackson Jr. in Illinois and Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, for instance.)
Does it all depend on their state, whether it was a felony or a misdemeanor, conviction after a trial or pleading guilty before a trial? How about if it was a financial crime, like cheating on taxes or misappropriation of funds or accepting bribes; or sex crimes (like another Virginia official, who was sleeping with his 17-year-old 'receptionist') --- does the crime make a difference? Or is it merely a conviction in one or more felonies = no pension?
Okay, I know that (assuming the convictions are upheld) my own former governor, Bob McDonnell, will be losing his rights to a governmental pension; but that's the Commonwealth of Virginia, not the federal government. Do congressmen convicted of felonies also lose their pensions? (I'm thinking of Jesse Jackson Jr. in Illinois and Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, for instance.)
Does it all depend on their state, whether it was a felony or a misdemeanor, conviction after a trial or pleading guilty before a trial? How about if it was a financial crime, like cheating on taxes or misappropriation of funds or accepting bribes; or sex crimes (like another Virginia official, who was sleeping with his 17-year-old 'receptionist') --- does the crime make a difference? Or is it merely a conviction in one or more felonies = no pension?
Here's a report from the Congressional Research Service that explains the rules as of 2013. Not sure whether there have been any new laws passed about this in the last year, but a quick google didn't turn up any.
posted by decathecting at 4:14 PM on December 22, 2014
posted by decathecting at 4:14 PM on December 22, 2014
These are commonly called "bad-boy clauses." They're prohibited in most private pension plans, which is why you mainly see them in government plans. There are lots of variations, including whether the individual was convicted or charged, the type of crime, whether the crime impacted the pension plan, and many other factors. Lots more information here.
posted by mchorn at 6:15 AM on December 23, 2014
posted by mchorn at 6:15 AM on December 23, 2014
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posted by decathecting at 4:12 PM on December 22, 2014