Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4702 (2026)

 Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 4702.  Threats and other improper influence in official and political matters.

(a)  Offenses defined.--A person commits an offense if he:

(1)  threatens unlawful harm to any person with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion as a public servant, party official or voter;

(2)  threatens unlawful harm to any public servant with intent to influence his decision, opinion, recommendation, vote or other exercise of discretion in a judicial or administrative proceeding; or

(3)  threatens unlawful harm to any public servant or party official with intent to influence him to violate his known legal duty.

(b)  Defense prohibited.--It is no defense to prosecution under this section that a person whom the actor sought to influence was not qualified to act in the desired way, whether because he had not yet assumed office, or lacked jurisdiction, or for any other reason.

(c)  Grading.--An offense under this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree unless the actor threatened to commit a crime or made a threat with intent to influence a judicial or administrative proceeding, in which cases the offense is a felony of the third degree.

 

Cross References.  Section 4702 is referred to in section 5708 of this title; section 5552 of Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure).

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1975–2003 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Carbo, 822 A.2d 60 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003).
Commonwealth v. Carbo, 822 A.2d 60 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2003). · cites it 4× “§ 5301, and proceed to a second preliminary hearing, since those charges had been the subject of the writ of habeas corpus issued by the distinguished Judge William W. Vogel on December 21, 2000. ¶ 4 The March 1, 2001, order of Judge Rossanese from which the Commonwealth took…”
Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331 (3rd Cir. 1989). · cites it 2× “We need not apply the Nardello generic extortion standard here, since we find the extortion allegations sufficient to state claims under the language of 18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4702(a)(2), (3), which prohibits “threaten[ing] unlawful harm to any public servant with intent to…”
Rose v. Bartle, 692 F. Supp. 521 (E.D. Pa. 1988). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4702 (Purdon 1983).”
Yurgosky v. Com., Admin. Off., 722 A.2d 631 (Pa. 1998). “18 Pa.C.S. § 4702. 3 . 18 Pa.C.S. § 903. 4 .”
Commonwealth v. Dolny, 342 A.2d 399 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1975). “334, §1 (18 Pa. C.S. §4702). 3 . The Penal Code, Act of June 24, 1939, P.”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4702(a)(1) — 1 case
Rose v. Bartle, 692 F. Supp. 521 (E.D. Pa. 1988). “18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4702 (Purdon 1983).”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4702(a)(2) — 1 case
Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331 (3rd Cir. 1989). “We need not apply the Nardello generic extortion standard here, since we find the extortion allegations sufficient to state claims under the language of 18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4702(a)(2), (3), which prohibits “threaten[ing] unlawful harm to any public servant with intent to…”
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 4702(c) — 1 case
Rose v. Bartle, 871 F.2d 331 (3rd Cir. 1989). “We need not apply the Nardello generic extortion standard here, since we find the extortion allegations sufficient to state claims under the language of 18 Pa.Cons.Stat.Ann. § 4702(a)(2), (3), which prohibits “threaten[ing] unlawful harm to any public servant with intent to…”
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