Sen. John Kerry has launched a petition drive asking that the General Accounting Office investigate the Pentagon's role in producing retired military experts to spread favorable press coverage of the Bush administration's prosecution of the Iraq war.

The major TV news outlets have done little if any coverage of this story - which broke two weeks ago - either out of embarrassment or self-preservation. Under federal law, it is illegal for the government to spread propaganda within the borders of the U.S.

The federal government recently unsealed several documents related to their investigation and prosecution of Rep. William Jefferson (D-LA) on corruption charges.  While no major revelations can be found in them, they do fill in some of the gaps.

For instance, they provide some specific details of the government's understanding of the shady Africa-related deals Jefferson sought to profit from.  The feds allege that Jefferson partially owns iGate, the company he persuaded the Nigerian government to work with in a deal worth more than $200 million.  When the deal started to go south, he intelligently used House stationery to write a letter to the Nigerian Vice President.

More "wha...?"-worthy, however, are the details regarding the money FBI agents found in Jefferson's freezer.  According to the documents, Jefferson had $10,000 stuffed in a bag from the "Yes Organic Market," $20,000 simply wrapped up in foil, $20,000 in a Pillsbury Pie Crust box, and (it breaks my vegetarian heart) $20,000 hidden in a Boca Burger box.

Why, Mr. Jefferson?  Why did you have to involve the soy burgers in your nefarious schemes?

Here's an interesting AP article I almost missed, laying out the strange position Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) finds himself in.

You know about the one the FBI is actively investigating him for - $5000/month from Jack Abramoff to Julie Doolittle for questionable consulting work while the gentleman from California was ushering Abramoff's pet issues and projects through Congress.

And then there's the other scandal, the bribery case that's already landed ex-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-CA) in prison:

The journalists who broke and elevated the story of Duke Cunningham's corruption are releasing a book entitled The Wrong Stuff: The Extraordinary Saga of Randy "Duke" Cunningham, the Most Corrupt Congressman Ever Caught.

The book details Cunningham's rise as a Vietnam War hero to powerful Congressman, and his ultimate fall in disgrace that ended with his imprisonment.  But, a note:

If you read the book, come back and give us a review.

UPDATE: TPMmuckraker has more.

Yesterday we reported that Mark Zachares, a former senior staffer to Rep. Don Young (R-AK), would be pleading guilty to charges stemming from his relationship with Jack Abramoff.

Well, Zachares did plead guilty, and federal prosecutors have recommended an 18 - 24 month jail sentence, with a possible reduction if his promised cooperation is "significant."  As part of his guilty plea to one count of "conspiracy to deprive the public of honest services," Zachares' wife will not be prosecuted.  Some details:

I swear, these people just keep coming up with all sorts of new and creative ways to commit - and define - bribery.  Oh, and of course there's always the bigger fish:

I'm pretty much convinced that the Abramoff scandal is going to keep developing forever.  It's hard to imagine a time when newspaper headlines won't be screaming about the latest public official implicated in the scandal.

Of course, this just speaks to the incomprehensible magnitude of Abramoff's reach.  This time, it's another senior Congressional staffer:

For those of you keeping score at home, that makes 11 people who have pleaded guilty in the investigation surrounding Jack Abramoff...that's not even counting the many many more who are under investigation.

Meet Inmate # 28882-016:

Inmate # 28882-016 is 52 years old.  He was born in Wheeling, WV, attended OSU, and has been married twice, with two children.  He also has some crazy bad hair and a smarmy smile, but that's immaterial.  He had a long career he enjoyed; it was profitable, and he was good at it.  Sounds pretty average and benign, right?

But then Mr. 28882-016 fell in with the wrong crowd.  He made some bad decisions, and eventually they caught up with him.  He betrayed everyone who had ever trusted him, betrayed the very purpose of his long and storied career.  Today, Mr. 28882-016 reported to federal prison to begin a 30-month sentence on felony charges.

And I'm jumping with joy that this menace is off the streets.

Who is this man, and why do I harbor such a deep dislike for him?  This man who has apologized, admitted his guilt, and sought treatment for addiction?  The man who, in a farewell letter yesterday to friends, said, with complete disregard of basic grammar rules, the following (emphasis mine)?

Bob Ney: Give. Me. A. Break.

Bob Ney, go directly to jail.  Do not pass go, do not collect any golf trips to Scotland.

Thirty months, plus two years probation and a paltry $6,000 fine and alcohol rehabilitation.  However...

Trust.  The trust placed in a lawmaker by the people who vote for him or her cannot be overvalued.  Too often, elected officials fail to understand that, or take it for granted, treating constituents like mere annoyances to be trifled with while keeping the eye on the bigger prize - more power, more money.

As Bob Ney has found out, that's not what the citizenry is there for.  That's not what prompts a voter to go to the polls and pull a lever, punch a chad, fill in a circle, connect an arrow, or plod around a computer screen and hope their vote is counted.  Trust.  If you abuse it, you'll pay.  It may take longer than it should, but eventually you'll be made to pay with your job, your credibility and reputation, your pocketbook, and your physical freedom.

Just ask ex-Representative Robert William Ney (OH-18) about those consequences.