Hello, Business Law distance learning students. Two concepts that often get
confused are the concepts of blackmail and extortion. Now, in the state of Texas,
blackmail is this idea that, uh, an individual by coercion influences or
attempts to influence a public servant in a specific exercise of the public
servant's official powers, trying to get that politician or judge to do something
where they, you know, have the power to-to do that. Um, and by this specific
performance of their official power, um, they violate the public servant's known
duty. So, if an individual has compromising pictures of, say, a politician
or a judge, and says, "Hey, politician, vote for my bill or I'll release these
pictures of you," or "Judge, rule in my favor or I'll release these pictures
of you," that would be blackmail. Uh, the individual that has the bad
pictures, they can release those pictures if they-if they want to, but they just
can't ask for something in return that would be a, uh, cause that public servant
to violate their-their duty. On the other hand, extortion is this concept that
an individual who is a public servant, you know, let's say somebody that works
for the city, makes some sort of, uh, illegal demand on a citizen. So, if you've applied
for a permit, maybe you've gone through the process and you're entitled to that
permit, then the permit reviewer or inspector has to issue the permit to you.
They can't say, "Hey, I also need $100 in my pocket before I'll issue this permit
to you." That would be extortion.
Give me a call or send me an email if you have questions.