List of United States federal officials convicted of corruption offenses

This list only includes federal officials convicted of certain select corruption crimes. For a more complete list see: List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes and List of federal political scandals in the United States.

Dozens of high-level United States federal officials have been convicted of public corruption offenses for conduct while in office. These officials have been convicted under two types of statutes. The first type are also applicable to corrupt state and local officials:Peter W. Schroth, Corruption and Accountability of the Civil Service in the United States, 42 554 (2006). the mail and wire fraud statutes (enacted 1872), including the honest services fraud provision,18 U.S.C. §§ 1341, 1343, 1346. the Hobbs Act (enacted 1934),18 U.S.C. § 1951(a), (b)(2). the Travel Act (enacted 1961),18 U.S.C. § 1952. and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) (enacted 1970).18 U.S.C. § 1961(1). In addition, federal officials are subject to the federal bribery, graft, and conflict-of-interest crimes contained in Title 18, Chapter 11 of the United States Code, 18 U.S.C. §§ 201–227, which do not apply to state and local officials. Most notably, § 201(b) prohibits the receipt of bribes, and § 201(c) prohibits the receipt of unlawful gratuities, by federal public officials. Lesser used statutes include conspiracy to defraud the United States (enacted 1867)Act of March 2, 1867, ch. 169, § 30, 14 Stat. 484 (codified as amended at 18 U.S.C. § 371). and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) (enacted 1977).Pub. L. No. 95-213, 91 Stat. 1495.

Where the defendant is a member of the United States Congress, the Speech or Debate Clause of Article One of the United States Constitution—providing that: "[F]or any Speech or Debate in either House, [Senators or Representatives] shall not be questioned in any other Place" art. I, § 6, cl. 1.—limits the acts which may be charged and the evidence that may be introduced.

Inclusion criteria and organization Only high-level federal officials are included in this list. For the executive branch, this means the President, Vice President, and Cabinet members (i.e. officials compensated at Level I of the Executive Schedule).5 U.S.C. § 5312. For the legislative branch, this means members of the Congress, whether the Senate or House of Representatives. For the judicial branch, this means Article Three judges. Lower-level officials are not included on this list, although they may be prosecuted for the same offenses.

Acquitted officials are not listed (if an official was acquitted on some counts, and convicted on others, the counts of conviction are listed). If a defendant is convicted of a conspiracy to commit a corruption offense, the substantive offense is listed. Convictions such as making false statements, perjury, obstruction of justice, electoral fraud, violations of campaign finance regulations, tax evasion and money laundering are not included in this list. Censure, impeachment, and removal from office are also not included in this list.

The list is organized by office. The criminal statute(s) under which the conviction(s) were obtained are noted, as are the names of notable investigations, scandals, or litigation, if applicable. The year of conviction is included (if the official was convicted multiple times due to retrials, only the year of the first conviction is included). Certain details, including post-conviction relief, if applicable, are included in footnotes. Political affiliation is also included.

List OfficialImageOfficeStateYearCrime(s)Scandal/investigation/caseNotesPartyUnited States1913BriberyMaryland1972Federal official gratuityUnited States v. Brewster (1972)In a pre-trial appeal, the Supreme Court rejected Brewster's argument that his prosecution violated the Speech or Debate Clause. United States v. Brewster, 408 U.S. 501 (1972). After his trial, the D.C. Circuit reversed Brewster's conviction and remanded for a new trial. United States v. Brewster, 506 F.2d 62 (D.C. Cir. 1974). Brewster then pleaded no contest. Daniel B. Brewster, 83, Former Senator, Dies, , August 27, 2007. Kansas1904Compensated representation in a proceeding in which the United States is interested (Rev. Stat. § 1782) (codified as amended at 18 U.S.C. § 203)Burton v. United States (1905, 1906)The Supreme Court reversed Burton's conviction and remanded for a new trial, citing violations of the Venue and Vicinage Clauses and prejudicially refused jury instructions. Burton v. United States, 196 U.S. 283 (1905). Following a retrial, Burton's conviction was affirmed. Burton v. United States, 202 U.S. 344 (1906).North Carolina2004Mail fraudBallance pleaded guilty. N.C.'s Ballance Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy, , November 10, 2004.New York1987Federal official gratuity and Travel ActUnited States v. Biaggi, 853 F.2d 89 (2d Cir. 1988).1988Federal official gratuity, mail fraud, Hobbs Act, and RICOWedtech scandalUnited States v. Biaggi, 909 F.2d 662 (2d Cir. 1990). AlabamaFederal official conflict-of-interest and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesPresident Johnson pardoned Boykin. Johnson Grants Frank Boykin a Full Pardon, , December 22, 1965. Ernest K. BramblettCalifornia1954Payroll fraud to cover kickbacksNew YorkConspiracy to defraud the United StatesUnited States v. Brasco, 516 F.2d 816 (2d Cir. 1975).TexasFederal official gratuity and RICOUnited States v. Bustamante, 45 F.3d 933 (5th Cir. 1995). Kansas1873Bribery Kansas1873Bribery PennsylvaniaMail fraudClark pleaded guilty. Fritz Huysman, Former Legislator Makes Surprise Guilty Plea, , February 14, 1979.Louisiana1991Federal official bribery and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesUnited States v. Collins, 972 F.2d 1385 (5th Cir. 1992).CaliforniaMail fraud and federal official briberyCunningham scandalCunningham pleaded guilty. Crooked Congressman Goes to Prison, CNN, March 3, 2006.MichiganMail fraudUnited States v. Diggs, 613 F.2d 988 (D.C. Cir. 1979). Minnesota1995Misuse of Public Funds Texas1971Federal official conflict-of-interest and Travel ActThe Fourth Circuit reversed Dowdy's convictions for violations of the Speech or Debate Clause. United States v. Dowdy, 479 F.2d 213 (4th Cir. 1973). PennsylvaniaFederal official conflict-of-interestEilberg pleaded guilty. Former U.S. Rep. Eilberg Pleads Guilty to Conflict, , February 25, 1979.1929Revolving door (18 U.S.C. § 207)Teapot Dome scandalFall v. United States, 49 F.2d 506 (D.C. Cir. 1931).New York1989Hobbs ActWedtech scandalAfter García's first trial, the Second Circuit reversed García's convictions and remanded for a new trial. United States v. Garcia, 907 F.2d 380 (2d Cir. 1990). After García's second trial, the Second Circuit again reversed and remanded for a new trial, this time in light of the Supreme Court's subsequent decision in McCormick v. United States, 500 U.S. 257 (1991). United States v. Garcia, 992 F.2d 409 (2d Cir. 1993). The government declined to prosecute García a third time. U.S. Will Not Retry Garcia in Extortion, , September 16, 1993. California1978Conspiracy to defraud the United StatesKoreagateHanna pleaded guilty. Ed Rogers, Hanna Sentenced in Bribery Case, , April 25, 1978. New York1976Mail fraudEx-Lawmaker Convicted of Fraud, , December 18, 1976. California1976Bribery California1935Sale of appointive office (18 U.S.C. § 150) (currently codified at 18 U.S.C. § 211)Hoeppel v. United States, 85 F.2d 237 (D.C. Cir. 1936).Illinois2013Mail and Wire Jackson pleaded guilty. [https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/former-congressman-jesse-l-jackson-jr-pleads-guilty-conspiring-defraud-campaign-more.Louisiana2009Federal official bribery, wire fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and RICOWilliam J. Jefferson corruption caseThe Fourth Circuit vacated one of Jefferson's wire fraud convictions for improper venue. United States v. Jefferson, 674 F.3d 332 (4th Cir. 2012). South CarolinaFederal official briberyAbscamUnited States v. Jenrette, 744 F.2d 817 (D.C. Cir. 1984).MarylandFederal official conflict-of-interest and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesUnited States v. Johnson (1966)The Supreme Court reversed Johnson's conviction and remanded for a new trial on the grounds that the introduction of certain evidence violated the Speech or Debate Clause. United States v. Johnson, 383 U.S. 169 (1966). At his retrial, the conspiracy count was dismissed Johnson was convicted of the conflict-of-interest count only. United States v. Johnson, 419 F.2d 56 (4th Cir. 1969).FloridaFederal official bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and Travel ActAbscamAfter the jury returned a verdict of guilty, the district judge granted Kelly's motion to dismiss the indictment on the grounds that the Abscam investigation was unconstitutional entrapment. The D.C. Circuit reversed, and reinstated the conviction. United States v. Kelly, 707 F.2d 1460 (D.C. Cir. 1983) (per curiam).PennsylvaniaConspiracy to defraud the United StatesCongressional Post Office scandalKolter pleaded guilty. Justin Pritchard, From the House to the Big House, , Jan./Feb. 1998.PennsylvaniaFederal official bribery and gratuity, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and Travel ActAbscamIllinoisBriberyOhioFederal official briberyHouse banking scandalUnited States v. Lukens, 114 F.3d 1220 (D.C. Cir. 1997).1939Conspiracy to defraud the United StatesUnited States v. Manton, 107 F.2d 834 (2d Cir. 1939).MassachusettsHobbs Act and RICOMavroules pleaded guilty. Ex-Congressman Pleads Guilty to 15 Racketeering, Extortion Charges, , April 16, 1993.Kentucky1947Conspiracy to defraud the United States and compensated representation in a proceeding in which the United States is interested (18 U.S.C. § 203)May v. United States, 175 F.2d 994 (D.C. Cir. 1949).Oregon1905Compensated representation in a proceeding in which the United States is interested (Rev. Stat. § 1782) (codified as amended at 18 U.S.C. § 203)Oregon land fraud scandalJerry A. O'Callaghan, Senator Mitchell and the Oregon Land Frauds, 1905, 21 255 (1952).New YorkFederal official gratuity, federal official conflict-of interest, and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesAbscamThe Second Circuit reversed Murphy's conflict-of-interest conviction. United States v. Myers, 692 F.2d 823 (2d Cir. 1982).PennsylvaniaFederal official bribery, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and Travel ActAbscamUnited States v. Myers, 692 F.2d 823 (2d Cir. 1982).OhioMail fraudJack Abramoff CNMI scandalNey pleaded guilty. , at 22.Dakota TerritoryBriberyNew YorkFederal official conflict-of-interest and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesPodell pleaded guilty. United States v. Podell, 519 F.2d 144 (2d Cir. 1975).FloridaBriberyIllinois1998Mail fraudCongressional Post Office scandalRostenkowski pleaded guilty. David E. Rosenbaum, Rostenkowski Pleads Guilty To Mail Fraud, , April 10, 1998.New York2024Wire fraud and identity theftSantos pleaded guilty. Jack Queen and Luc Cohen, New JerseyFederal official bribery and gratuity and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesAbscamOhio2002Federal official bribery and gratuity, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and RICOUnited States v. Traficant, 368 F.3d 646 (6th Cir. 2004).Pennsylvania1973Mail fraudWhalley pleaded guilty. Milton Jacques, Ex-Rep. Whalley Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud, , August 1, 1973.New Jersey1981Federal official bribery and gratuity, federal official conflict-of-interest, Travel Act, and conspiracy to defraud the United StatesAbscamUnited States v. Williams, 705 F.2d 603 (2d Cir. 1983). New Jersey2024Bribery, extortion, acting as a foreign agent, obstruction of justice and several counts of conspiracy.

See also Ulysses S. Grant presidential administration scandals List of federal political scandals in the United States

References