What offense is committed when a person offers benefits to a public servant who is prohibited by law from accepting them?

• A. Bribery of Public Servant
• B. Offering Gift to Public Servant
• C. Gift to Public Official
• D. Improper Influence

Answer: (B)

The situation tests the rule that offering something of value to a public servant who is legally barred from accepting such gifts is itself an offense. The key is the act of offering to someone who cannot accept due to a prohibition. That makes it a distinct violation for “Offering Gift to Public Servant,” separate from general bribery or attempts to influence.

Why this fits best: the prohibition on the recipient’s acceptance is the trigger. Even if the public servant cannot accept, the act of offering a gift to them is illegal under the statute that forbids offering gifts to public servants. This focuses on the offer itself to a prohibited recipient, not on whether the official’s actions were influenced or on the act of accepting a gift.

For context, bribery involves giving something of value with the intent to influence an official act, which requires the notion of influencing duties rather than merely offering to someone who cannot accept. Improper influence centers on attempts to sway a public official’s decisions, often through threats or promises. The option about a gift to a public official typically relates to gifts actually received, whereas the chosen option addresses the act of offering to someone who is not allowed to take gifts.