West Palm Beach Congressman Tim Mahoney (D-FL), Congressman's $121,000 Payoff to Alleged Mistress

For some reason, I'm not that interested in the sexual improprieties of members of Congress. But Mark Foley's suggestive e-mail messages to congressional pages caused his resignation and Larry Craig was the talk of the town for months.

So now we have Foley's replacement paying off a mistress. I suppose his punishment will be the same? Can it it be? He is, after all, a Democrat and Democrats get passes where Republicans get crucified.

Should it be? Obviously the Democrats in Congress are trying to provide cover for Mahoney and avoid the taint that they are the party of sleaze and illicit sex.

From ABC News:

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.

The AP is running interference for the Democrats:

Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney on Monday called for an ethics investigation of himself amid reports that he had an affair and then paid the woman to keep her quiet.

While not directly addressing whether the allegations were true, Mahoney said in a brief release he was confident he'd be vindicated. Minutes later on Monday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also called for an investigation.
...
Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chair of the House Democratic Caucus, heard rumors about an affair in early 2007 and confronted Mahoney, a spokeswoman said Monday.

"Upon hearing a rumor, Congressman Emanuel confronted Congressman Mahoney, told him he was in public life and had a responsibility to act accordingly and appropriately, and urged him to do so," the spokeswoman said. "They had no further conversations on this topic."

Nancy Pelosi says that this is not the Mahoney she knew:

"I just learned today about the serious allegations concerning Congressman Tim Mahoney. These charges must be immediately and thoroughly investigated by the House Ethics Committee."

Demanding "These charges must be investigated," is becoming a pattern. Democrats accused of wrongdoing demand they be investigated by the ethics committee, ending the investigation.