It may very well be that Senator Torricelli is innocent of taking "illegal gifts," as he has long claimed.

Thus a consideration of the difference between legal and illegal gifts to a federal official may prove useful.

Mr. Espy has been acquitted of charges that he accepted illegal gifts.

This was news to everyone, since the senator has always in the past carefully parsed his answer to rule out only "illegal gifts."

Indeed, no lawmaker has been sanctioned for accepting illegal gifts or breaking any other provision of the statute.

The bride asked the groom whether he supported the illegal gift.

The charges against him include making false statements to Congress, obstructing inquiries into his actions and accepting illegal gifts, like a $13,800 home security system.

A day earlier, a federal grand jury had indicted him on fifteen counts of giving illegal gifts to the secretary of defense.

When it comes to illegal gifts to Albany politicians, it has long been worse to give than to receive.

But no lawmakers have been punished for receiving the illegal gifts.