But in this case, the companies passed out the bonus BEFORE they went on public assistance. At least, that's when the contracts were put in place. Believe me, I have nothing but contempt for these sleazebags, but this was a debt they contracted before the economy caved in, and I'm sure some of those bonuses went to people who didn't help precipitate the crash.

Look at it this way, suppose you were a businessman contracted to lavishly redecorate some CEO offices before the crash or the bailout. You are entitled to get paid for your labor and materials, even if it turns out later that this redecoration was a criminal extravagance on the part of the people who hired you to do the job.

Now, if you can prove in court that these guys started handing out bonuses knowing that they were heading down the tubes, in effect, that they were looting the company before its demise became public, that would be conspiracy, and they would deserve to swing.