Scandals keep piling up for Democratic politicians

WASHINGTON — The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Tuesday marks the latest in a series of recent scandals erupting around Democratic politicians, an ironic turn for a party that won control of Congress in 2006, in part by saying it would end a "culture of corruption" under Republican leadership.

Democrats also highlighted Republican ethical problems in the successful bid to expand their congressional majorities in 2008, and Barack Obama made government transparency and a crackdown on lobbyist influence a central theme of his presidential campaign.

The corruption charges against Blagojevich come as one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress, Rep. Charles Rangel of New York, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, remains under investigation by a House ethics panel.

The panel is looking at Rangel's occupation of several rent-controlled apartments in Manhattan, failure to pay taxes on an offshore rental property and other ethics questions. Tuesday, panel officials said the investigation was expanding to include accusations that Rangel supported a tax break for an oil-drilling company in exchange for a donation to a school that would bear his name.

Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana is awaiting trial on charges of bribery, money laundering and misusing his congressional office, to which he has pleaded not guilty. Saturday, he was ousted from his House seat in a runoff election.

Earlier, Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York resigned after revelations that he was involved in a prostitution ring.

The allegations against Blagojevich — including charges that he solicited favors to influence his decision about who should replace Obama in the Senate — shocked some fellow Democrats.

"It straightened my hair," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, D-Fla.

Democrats said they hoped the political fallout would be limited, but they acknowledged the developments would give Republicans a new political target during Obama's transition months.

"Do I think Republicans will try to make something of this?" said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. "Of course."

The new chairman of the GOP's Senate campaign committee was quick to respond to the Blagojevich news. "Every Democratic and labor union official, whether in Illinois or in their national organizations, who has spoken with the governor or his aides about this U.S. Senate seat should step forward and immediately make public the full details of those conversations and meetings," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. "The stain of corruption needs to be lifted from this selection process and the public trust restored."

Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., chairman of the committee responsible for helping elect Democrats to the House, said he thought the damage would be limited to those engaged in wrongdoing.

Democratic political consultant Peter Fenn said, "You want these guys over the edge of the ship as fast as you can push them."