Does an external consultant qualify as a government agent under 18-usc-666

QUESTIONS PRESENTED I. Does an external consultant retained by a state or local government qualify as a government “agent” subject to prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 666 where the consultant lacks authority to act with respect to the entity’s funds? II. Is the government free to convict a public official of quid pro quo bribery without having to show that the defendant engaged in an official act? Put differently, is any “act” by a public official sufficient quo to convict under 18 U.S.C. § 666 or, as with other federal bribery laws, must the government establish that the official accepted payment in exchange for an “official act”? i PARTIES Alejandro Carrasco, Petitioner, was the defendantappellant below. The United States of America, Respondent, was the plaintiff-appellee below.