The quid pro quo definitely occurred. But while one of Bill de Blasio’s earliest and most generous donors will probably head to prison for a very long time, the New York City mayor will get off scot-free. Why?

The facts are damnable on their face. A restaurateur named Harendra Singh was trying to renegotiate the terms of his lease with the city. He owed millions in back rent for his restaurant, but rather than scrape that money together, Singh tried swindling the mayor instead. By all accounts, it worked.