Subject of many a political scandal

As a detective, my first step was to examine the clue carefully: ‘Subject of many a political scandal.’ This clue suggests that the answer is a word or phrase that is commonly associated with political scandals. So, I started brainstorming some possibilities, such as corruption, scandal, fraud, or misconduct. As I narrowed down the options, one word prominently stood out to me that seemed to match the criteria: ‘bribe.’

Bribery is often at the center of many political scandals, where individuals offer or receive payments in exchange for political favors or access to power. Politicians and public officials being caught taking bribes have made headlines worldwide. Moreover, Bribery is an illegal and highly unethical act that can not only damage the reputation and integrity of political figures and offices but also erode public trust in a government’s ability to serve honest and transparently. Thus, after careful consideration, I concluded the answer to the crossword clue to be “Bribe.”