[DrScump]

  We were assured that it was not illegal as long as these
  bonuses and donations to not match in space and time.

It's absolutely illegal. What he was apparently trying to convey is that it you are less likely to be caught if the contributions are spread out.

[relkor]

Yes that is true, bribery is illegal and this kind of conspiracy is bad. But if you spread it out and do not put anything in writing, it will be hell for the IRS to prove this. And if you are the type of person who attended this, you have a personal lawyer that you got when you turned 16. It will be very difficult to ever press this to a conviction. And remember, the various departments of the executive branch are in on this, they are the ones laundering the money and further removing it from the original bill that released the funds from the treasury.