Ask Thomas K. Welch, the former president of the Salt Lake Bid Committee, who was acquitted in 2003 of charges that he illegally influenced I.O.C. members to secure their votes.

Both the Gardner and Mitchell warrants sought evidence of "schemes to defraud Unisys" by diverting money to other individuals and companies "to illegally influence the defense contracting business."

Vincent Johnson, the last officer named in the indictment, was not involved in the sexual misconduct, but was alleged to have illegally influencing the prisoners to engage in the behavior.

In 2006 a major scandal in Italian football revealed that certain clubs had been illegally influencing the referee selection process, in an attempt to ensure that certain referees were assigned to their matches.

Prosecutors have long suggested that Mr. Gotti and his brother, Gene, have beaten them in court in a string of cases by illegally influencing jurors.

"I will not allow anyone to suggest that I have tried to illegally influence the criminal justice system in any way," he said.

Lemaire complained that Messier illegally influenced Referee Kerry Fraser to initiate a video review that nullified Doug Gilmour's tying goal.

Lithuania's parliament starts impeachment proceedings against President Rolandas Paksas, who is charged with violating the constitution by leaking state secrets, rewarding a financial supporter with citizenship and illegally influencing companies.

The statement said the committee would look into "whether foreign governments have engaged in an effort to illegally influence U.S. domestic political campaigns since November 1992."