In Summation - The Final Word

United States v. Philip Esformes


Listen Later

What is "fraud?"  How does it work?  What are the recourses of someone who has been defrauded?  Is fraud always criminal?

In today's episode, Paul dives into healthcare fraud.  Philip Esformes set up an elaborate scheme which triggered federal agencies like Medicare and Medicaid to pay his companies, and so, him, vast amounts of money.  But the money wasn't actually going to treatment or services, Esformes was just making up fake billing reports, and then making/taking kickbacks to/from other vendors for other services that were either unnecessarily expensive or simply never happened to sweeten the deal even further.

Listen as we discuss the arguments made at trial, why our federal government takes theft from its own coffers so seriously, and what happens when prosecutors abuse their significant powers and seize information which should be protected by a legal privilege.

But then there is more.  This case presents a unique opportunity for us to really explore the distinction between a presidential pardon as opposed to when the president commutes a person's sentence.  To further make this case fascinating, we will look at the unique set of events which is leading the federal government to attempt to put Esformes back on trial after former President Trump let him out of jail.

Listen and enjoy!  

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

In Summation - The Final WordBy Paul Townsend

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

31 ratings


More shows like In Summation - The Final Word

View all
This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

91,011 Listeners

The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

The Joe Rogan Experience

226,832 Listeners

Congressional Dish by Jennifer Briney

Congressional Dish

1,126 Listeners

Politics Politics Politics by Justin Robert Young

Politics Politics Politics

885 Listeners

The Reason Roundtable by The Reason Roundtable

The Reason Roundtable

1,503 Listeners

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast by Dr. Jordan B. Peterson

The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

34,136 Listeners

The Political Orphanage by Andrew Heaton

The Political Orphanage

972 Listeners

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie by The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

726 Listeners

The Dispatch Podcast by The Dispatch

The Dispatch Podcast

3,184 Listeners

The MeidasTouch Podcast by MeidasTouch Network

The MeidasTouch Podcast

45,607 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,335 Listeners

Club Random with Bill Maher by Bill Maher

Club Random with Bill Maher

4,244 Listeners

We're Not Wrong by Andrew Heaton, Jen Briney, Justin Robert Young

We're Not Wrong

136 Listeners

Just Asking Questions by Reason

Just Asking Questions

100 Listeners

This is Gavin Newsom by iHeartPodcasts

This is Gavin Newsom

6,622 Listeners