Dianne Wilkerson Didn't Stop at $23,500

In her first interview since being arrested for bribery in October, Dianne Wilkerson revealed she took way more money than was caught on tape (or in her bra): up to $70,000. But at least these funds weren't bribes. To the contrary, they were totally legal (according to Wilkerson), and just going toward paying off Wilkerson's personal debts, particularly those nagging tax bills. That's what we elect our politicians for—to help 'em out! The more destitute, the better. Apparently it is legal for individuals to give a tax-free $12,000 to others, but it's usually more of a parent-child than a constituent-politician payment. And even if a bunch of kind-hearted Bostonians (assuming those exist) really just wanted to help Wilkerson with her non-tax-paying ways (by giving her even more money to not pay taxes on), she could've some taken measures to make it look a bit less suspicious. For example, Arthur Winn, a partner in the Columbus Center project, gave Wilkerson money—and she conveniently voted to fund his development. Wilkerson also uses the "everyone does it" excuse:

"Not so fast, you know," she said, reiterating her belief that it was not illegal to take money without reporting it. "If that was the law, we'd all be in jail."

Okay, so maybe this Bostonist wasn't planning to put grandma's $25 birthday check on her 1040 (don't tell the IRS). But nor did this Bostonist use her political clout to get funding for new siding on grandma's house. While part of what Wilkerson did may have been technically legal, her error came in taking the money from folks with a big stake in her political actions. A big happy political family, or bribes all around? The courts will decide.