Scandal, Politicians Behaving Badly | featured news

New York State Sen. Malcolm Smith and five other politicians pleaded not guilty Tuesday to corruption charges in connection with an alleged plot to buy a line on New York City's mayoral ballot. The allegations revived public concerns about a documented culture of exploitation in Albany that has prompted officials to seek legal recourse to induce change.

Six New York politicians were arrested on Tuesday for their alleged role in a bribery scandal that saw a prominent Democrat pay top Republicans for permission to run on their ticket in the city's upcoming mayoral race, prosecutors said.

Former Senator and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards has been connected by a New York online news site to Anna Gristina, the "Millionaire Madam," a claim that Edwards has swiftly denied.

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich embraced the public spotlight one last time Wednesday, claiming on the day before he reports to prison that he always believed what he did was legal and expressing faith that an appeal of his corruption convictions will succeed....

Rep. David Wu could be eligible for pension and benefits worth more than $1 million in his lifetime, according to an analysis by the National ...

Democratic Rep. David Wu of Oregon announced Tuesday that he will resign amid the political fallout from an 18-year-old woman's allegations of an unwanted sexual encounter with him....

Top House Democrats, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, are again calling for the Ethics Committee to investigate one of their own, this time following allegations of sexual misconduct by Oregon Rep. David Wu.

Wow, John Edwards — does he still have it, or what? The former senator and VP nominee, indicted on felony charges of violating federal campaign finance law and facing possible jail time, showed up for his booking bright-eyed and well-coiffed, flashing his better-days smile, in photos released by the U.S. Marshals Wednesday. We haven’t seen a mug shot this suave since Paris Hilton’s, or maybe Tom DeLay’s. . .

The move by the House Democratic leader underscored Democrats’ growing concern about Representative Anthony D. Weiner’s online exchanges with women.

U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, who has been under fire after admitting to sending graphic photos to women online, acknowledged Friday that he had online contact with a 17-year-old girl in Delaware but said the communications were "neither explicit nor indecent."...