"Supreme Court Grapples with Scope of Bribery Laws"
The Supreme Court is considering limiting the scope of a federal statute that criminalizes the acceptance of gifts and payments by state and local officials and institutions receiving federal money to influence or reward their actions. The case involves a former mayor charged with violating the law after receiving payment from a company following a manipulated bidding process. Justices seemed inclined to narrow the law's reach, debating whether it applies only to before-the-fact bribes or also to after-the-fact gratuities.