Bribery is the offering, giving, soliciting, or receiving of something of value in order to influence the actions of a person who holds a public or legal duty (often someone in public office or government). To prove the crime of bribery, the prosecution must demonstrate that there was a quid pro quo exchange in which the recipient (public official) changed or altered his behavior in exchange for the gift (bribe). The quid pro quo relationship between the gift given and the action taken must be clear and direct. For this reason, campaign donations to political candidates generally do not constitute bribery.
In Ohio, bribery is addressed under Ohio Revised Code Section 2921.02, which defines bribery as offering, giving, or promising something of value to a public official with the intent to influence the official's actions related to their public duties. This includes influencing decisions, votes, opinions, or other exercises of discretion. To convict someone of bribery in Ohio, the prosecution must prove that there was a 'quid pro quo' arrangement, meaning there was a clear and direct exchange of something of value for a specific action by the public official. The law is clear that the intent to influence must be present for the act to be considered bribery. Campaign contributions, as long as they are made in accordance with campaign finance laws and without an explicit agreement for a specific official act in return, are not considered bribery. Violations of bribery statutes in Ohio are treated as felonies and can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
