Blue Spot

Labels: Chicago politics, corruption, Gov. Blagojevich, Illinois, Scandals, Senate

ABC News: Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress Tim Mahoney Elected to Remove 'Ethical Cloud' of His Disgraced Predecessor, Mark Foley

West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), whose predecessor resigned in the wake of a sex scandal, agreed to a $121,000 payment to a former mistress who worked on his staff and was threatening to sue him, according to current and former members of his staff who have been briefed on the settlement, which involved Mahoney and his campaign committee.

Mahoney, who is married, also promised the woman, Patricia Allen, a $50,000 a year job for two years at the agency that handles his campaign advertising, the staffers said.

A Mahoney spokesperson would not answer questions about the alleged affair or the settlement, but said Allen resigned of her own accord and "has not received any special payment from campaign funds."

Senior Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), the chair of the Democratic Caucus, have been working with Mahoney to keep the matter from hurting his re-election campaign, the Mahoney staffers said.

Labels: Congress, Ethics reform, Scandals

The scandal-plagued, 5 term Republican Congressman from NY's 13th congressional district decides he will not be running for re-election. Clip is from NY Nightly News Channel 4 coverage. Democratic opponent Steve Harrison is interviewed.

Channel 7 mentioned Harrison in their coverage tonight but said that Democratic party insiders will probably try to push him to the side. They interviewed Democratic NYC Council member Mike McMahon who said he would like to throw his name in the ring.

Labels: Fossella, Local, NY-13, Scandals, Steve Harrison

The Associated Press: Governor, Dems call on Ohio attorney general to resign

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and other Democratic leaders are calling on the state's scandal-scarred attorney general to resign.

Attorney General Marc Dann admitted Friday to having an extramarital affair with a subordinate. The admission came after findings in an unrelated sexual harassment investigation threatened to reveal the relationship.

Strickland, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Dann's fellow Democratic state officeholders and all Democratic state legislators sent Dann a letter Monday imploring him to leave office.

Dann is just 16 months into his four-year term. He hasn't yet responded to the letter.

Labels: GOP Hypocrisy, Scandals