Tennessee: state senator pleads guilty to taking a "gratuity"
AP reports: A veteran state senator pleaded guilty to bribery Thursday, admitting he took $3,000 in FBI money during a statewide corruption investigation.
Sen. Ward Crutchfield, 78, was one of five current and former state lawmakers charged in the FBI sting code-named Tennessee Waltz, and the only one to remain in office. His trial was scheduled to begin Monday.
In return for the Chattanooga Democrat's guilty plea, a more serious charge of extortion was dropped by federal prosecutors. ...
Defense attorney William Farmer characterized the money that Crutchfield admitted taking as a "gratuity" rather than a bribe.
"They gave him a gratuity - thanks for all your help - long after he had already agreed to support this bill," Farmer said outside court. -- Tenn. Lawmaker Pleads Guilty to Bribery
Comment: I don't know which is worse -- taking the money or trying to explain it away as only a "gratuity."