 The Hobbs Act 's definition of " extortion " was " copied from the New York Code substantially . " The New York extortion law provided : " Extortion is the obtaining of property from another , or the obtaining the property of a corporation from an officer , agent , or employee thereof , with his consent , induced by a wrongful use of force or fear , or under color of official right . " Blackstone described extortion as " an abuse of public justice , which consists of an officer 's unlawfully taking , by colour of his office , from any man , any money or thing of value that is not due to him , or more than is due , or before it is due . " 
