Bribery Laws

If you read or watch the news, you know that the media is full of stories of public officials who are accused of bribery and corruption. If you are accused of bribery, you could face sanctions under Washington State and/or federal law, depending on the circumstances.

Due to the complexities of state and federal laws concerning bribery, and the high profile nature of such cases, an individual accused of bribery should seriously consider contacting an experienced attorney who has the necessary knowledge to handle bribery cases. An experienced attorney can assist you by building a strong defense and advocating on your behalf.

What is Bribery?

According to Washington State RCW 9A.68.010, a person is guilty of bribery if they do one of the following:

1. Offers, confers, or agrees to confer any monetary benefit on a public servant with the intent to secure a particular result in a particular matter involving the exercise of the public servant's vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action in his or her official capacity.
2. Requests, accepts, or agrees to accept any monetary benefit based on an agreement or understanding that his or her vote, opinion, judgment, exercise of discretion, or other action as a public servant will be used to secure or attempt to secure a particular result in a particular matter.

Bribery is a class B felony. For additional types of bribery, see the Washington State Legislature's website.