REAL LIFE: US Sen Harrison Williams (D-NJ) lost his seat and went to jail b/c he took a gift of stock (in a sting setup with an Arab sheik).
Ordinary citizens can take gifts of stock without penalty.
When an elected offical does so, the implication is that he will use the power of gov’t to benefit the gift-giver.
jack murtha was filmed taking what he thought was a saudi bribe. It was the FBI and Abscam. He never was prosecuted and became one of the most powerful criminals in the federal gooberment.
LLS