Today, Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was indicted on seven felony counts for not disclosing gifts and income. Mr. Stevens, who is the longest serving Republican senator ever, adds to a growing Republican rap sheet. Here is a quick Top 10 list of some of his younger Capitol Hill colleagues and their recent shenanigans, in reverse chronology:
- [2008] Representative Rick Renzi (R-AZ), along with two buddies, drummed up a 35-count indictment from a grand jury. Charges include extortion, wire fraud and money laundering.
- [2007] I. Lewis Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, was convicted of lying to a grand jury and to the F.B.I. in their investigation in to the leaking of the identity of a C.I.A. operative.
- [2007] Representative Bob Ney (R-OH) was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after admitting culpability in a lobbying scandal involving one Mr. Jack Abramoff.
- [2006] David H. Safavian resigned as the head of federal procurement policies at the Bush White House before being convicted on four counts of lying and obstruction of justice charges related to one Mr. Jack Abramoff.
- [2006] Tony Rudy, Tom DeLay's one time chief of staff, pleaded guilty to lining his pockets with thousands of dollars funneled through a consulting firm he ran with his wife. The admission came in the wake of an investigation regarding one Mr. Jack Abramoff.
- [2006] Representative Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) accrued $2.4 million from bribes in the form of yachts, homes and home furnishings. He later collected eight years and four months in prison on corruption charges.
- [2006] Representative Mark Foley (R-FL) resigned from office after it was revealed that he had acted rather improperly with Capitol Hill teenage pages.
- [2005] Representative Tom DeLay (R-TX), a.k.a. "The Hammer", got nailed with a money laundering charge. The case is currently moving through appeals court.
- [2005] Michael Scanlon, former spokesman for Rep. Tom DeLay, pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge. As part of the plea deal Mr. Scanlon agreed to pay restitution of more than $19 million to Native American tribes he was accused of defrauding.
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