 The First Congress passed the " first federal law against bribery " in 1789 , which provided that bribed customs officers would be disqualified from office and payors would be liable for the amount of the bribe . The judicial bribery provision of the Crimes Act of 1790 , passed the following year , provided for disqualification , and a fine and imprisonment " at the discretion of the court , " for both the judge and the payor . The Crimes Act of 1825 added the offenses of extortion under color of office , theft or embezzlement by a Second Bank employee , and coin embezzlement or dilution by a Mint employee . 
