Fighting Public Corruption in the United States

by Michael Erbschloe

Public corruption is a breach of the public’s trust by government officials who use their public office to obtain personal gain. It is a violation of federal law for any federal, state, or local government official to ask for or receive anything of value in exchange for, or because of, any official act. Under federal law, any person who offers or pays a bribe is also guilty. These crimes are the result of secret deals, sealed with whispered conversations, quick handshakes, and money paid...