Southern Scandal Watch

The scandal season is still in full bloom, claiming ethically challenged lawmakers across the political aisle. Two recent items of a Southern flavor (hat tip to TPM Muckraker):

(1) Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) is in deep trouble, says today's New York Times, for funneling half a billion dollars to his favorite non-profits in the state. Small beans compared to, say, the amount the Pentagon has misplaced for the Iraq war in the last couple years, but still unseamly.

(2) The Associated Press is reporting today that Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R) is linked to an ongoing investigation into GOP dirty tricks, including jamming Democratic phone lines in New Hampshire on election day 2002 and harassment phone calls in New Jersey. Barbour "arranged the startup financing" for the GOP telemarketing company involved. The relationship doesn't stop there: The company's founder, Allen Raymond, once worked for Barbour at the Republican National Committee.