Demagogue

A report by a House committee provides new details on the illegal activities of former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) who

... pressured and intimidated staff members of the House Intelligence Committee to help steer more than $70 million in classified federal business to favored military contractors, according to a Congressional investigation made public on Tuesday.

... The inquiry also found that despite numerous “red flags” about the propriety of a particular contract for work on a controversial Pentagon counterintelligence program, committee staff members for three years “continued to accept and support Mr. Cunningham’s growing requests for this project.”

But you don't have to serve in Congress to have a knack for sleaze and corruption; nor must you be a Republican. Authorities arrested New York State Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Queens) yesterday and filed 43 criminal charges against him.

My favorite? That McLaughlin allegedly stole $95,000 from Little League baseball teams to pay for housing costs.