Commiting the crime is the most important. It takes months if not years to sort out what happened. By the time authorities (that you don't own) figure out what happened, you are years down the road and the damage was done.

You don't need legitimacy to be in office. Once your in, the rest no longer matters. The communist learned this almost 100 years ago.

Laws don't matter to communist. Only power. You're considered weak and dumb if you're not cheating.