When was Jackson ever engaged in an intellectual debate? As far as I have seen, all she ever did was announce her conclusions to like-minded people.Spartacus wrote:It is frightening that some people would find such delight or have such venomous words for a woman who believes she's fighting an intellectual debate.
All criminal laws require an element of intent. Larceny requires an intent to take money that is not yours. Murder requires an intent to kill someone. It's not necessary to prove that that the defendent knew that it was illegal to steal, or that it was illegal to kill, but it is necessary to prove that they intended to commit the act that was illegal.Spartacus wrote:She isn't a criminal. A person doesn't rob a bank because he thinks it's legal. That's what's so preposterous about the Cheek defense -- I'm criminally immune if I truly think I'm not breaking a law?
In the case of tax crimes, it's a little more complicated because the tax laws can be complicated and it is possible to violate the tax laws unintentionally. So the requirement that the violation be "willful" means that the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew that what they were doing was contrary to the tax laws. It's a subtle distinction, but it is not necessary for the government to prove that the person knew that what they were doing was a crime, only that what they were doing was different from what was required under the tax laws.
To give you an illustration of different possible violations of tax laws, deciding to file a tax return late is contrary to tax law but not a crime. Deciding not to file any tax return at all is both contrary to tax law and a crime.
In Jackson's case, the jury found beyond a reasonable doubt that she knew that she was required to file income tax returns and that she intentionally decided not to file tax returns. Whether or not she knew that she was doing was a crime was not relevant.
*I* didn't excuse him, and I don't think that anyone else who regularly contributes to the forum would excuse him either. The jury excused him.Spartacus wrote:You excuse Tom Cryer for the Cheek defense