21 Legislators from 109th Congress Investigated for Corruption

[babylonsister]

21 Legislators from 109th Congress Investigated for Corruption
by Paul Kiel - June 12, 2008 3:30 pm EDT


Eighteen months into the 110th Congress, federal investigators are still taking a hard look at the 109th, adding to the incredible tally of lawmakers from that body to reportedly be investigated by the FBI for corruption.

Recently revealed investigations of two former lawmakers bring that total to 21. Some of those 21 investigations have closed with no charges, some seem dormant, some are ongoing, and some have resulted in convictions. Since the FBI doesn't comment on ongoing investigations, it's often hard to determine the status. But the total clearly demonstrates that public corruption is one of the FBI's top priorities. The FBI told us the number of agents focusing on public corruption jumped by more than 56 percent in the past several years -- from 451 agents in fiscal 2001 to 705 in fiscal 2008.

Last Friday, the FBI raided a New York lobbying firm as part of an investigation by the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section into ex-Rep. John Sweeney (R-NY). And a former aide to ex-Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) pleaded guilty last week to accepting gifts from Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm in exchange for help with Abramoff clients.

Below is a rundown of all 21 lawmakers, current and former. Ten of them are no longer in office. Investigations of seven are part of the Abramoff investigation. Seventeen are Republicans, four are Democrats. This total, based on prosecutorial filings and unambiguous news reports, does not include at least three reported federal investigations of lawmakers for matters other than corruption, including Ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL).

more...

http://www.propublica.org/article/pol-investigation-wrap-up/

[babylonsister]

1. 'Only' four Dems? nt

[WhiteTara]

2. they should go too

I hate crooked politicians, r or d

Of course, my cynical thoughts say "were the ds framed"? (Seigleman comes to mind)

but yeah, on a ratio of over 4 to 1 are dirty rs

[babylonsister]

3. I agree with you; if the Dems are crooked, they need to go, too. nt