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I would be very happy if you streamlined the approval process for my project.

vs.

I will donate $20k to your reelection campaign if you streamline the approval process.

Clearly the former construction could not possibly construed as an implied bribe and we shouldn't punish those who want to reward our hard working civil servants for their honorable public service. /s

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> I would be very happy if you streamlined the approval process for my project.

But that's not what is being compared here. The more accurate description would be:

"I am very happy that you streamlined the approval process for my project, so here is $20k."

"Here is my project that's being held up by a slow approval process, btw, here is $20k for the great job you did on ${insert random unrelated former act they did}"

Facilitation payments, which as near as I can tell are line jumping bribes for things like approval processes, are specifically carved out as an exception to the US anti-bribery laws.

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