The bribes could easily be viewed as deliberately interfering with the politician's sworn oaths - the crime is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interferen

The bribes could easily be viewed as deliberately interfering with the politician's sworn oaths - the crime is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tortious_interference And "acting in their own self interests" is an explanation, but not a justification, and doesn't lessen the crime in any way.