"There were no illegal payments and no illegal gratuities," he said.

They'd been convicted for giving illegal gratuities to my Agriculture Secretary.

The charge of receiving an illegal gratuity carries a maximum of two years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

In 1962, while he was running for re-election, charges were brought against him regarding the receipt of illegal gratuities in Congress.

The indictment described the plan as a conspiracy to pay an "illegal gratuity" to Colonel North.

Two years after was out of Congress, he was charged with taking illegal gratuities while in the House.

The investigation uncovered bribes and illegal gratuities ranging from $10 to $1,000.

He was charged with conspiracy, bribery, and accepting an illegal gratuity.

The jury decided the arrangement was an illegal gratuity and not, as the defense had contended, a pure act of friendship that involved no strings.

North also was convicted of ordering the destruction of documents and accepting an illegal gratuity.