Under federal law, bribery is giving something of value to any public official. Under federal law, bribery means to give or offer anything of value to a public official with the intent to influence an official act or get a public official to commit any type of fraud in the United States that will induce them to commit a crime or violate their official duties. The same federal bribery laws apply to a person offering or promising something to the public official that apply to the public official who allegedly received or solicited a bribe.
It is important to note that federal bribery laws are separate from the local bribery laws under the District of Columbia Code. The difference between the two is who is considered to be a public official and the possible penalties a person could face if they are convicted of bribery. Federal bribery charges can carry serious penalties including up to 15 years in prison and fines up to $250,000 or three times the amount of the bribe, whichever is greater. Because a person could face years in a federal prison for engaging in bribery, so it is very important to approach these situations carefully and with the help of a lawyer who has experience in federal bribery laws.