Is Harry Reid Corrupt?

It’s a good thing that the Democrats have taken both houses of Congress. They’re going to save us from the Culture of Corruption supposedly built by the Republicans. I suddenly feel very safe and secure now that Senator Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada, is going to be the next Senate Majority Leader.

Yeah, Harry’s going to clean house in the Senate. He certainly seems to have cleaned up monetarily with the help of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who starts his sentence in Federal prison today.

A source “close to the investigation” of Abramoff apparently has told ABC News that Senator Harry Reid is one of the members of Congress that Abramoff implicated while cooperating with federal prosecutors.

Abramoff allegedly told prosecutors that his clients donated more than $30,000 in campaign contributions to Reid, and the donations "were no accident and were in fact requested by Reid." Abramoff has allegedly claimed Harry Reid agreed to help him on matters “related to Indian gambling.”

If you recall, earlier this year the Associated Press reported that Reid wrote at least four letters that were helpful to the tribes that had contributed money to his campaign. And of course, Senator Reid has denied there was any connection between the letters and the money coming in.

Yeah, right.

The Associated Press also reported that Reid acknowledged he had routine contacts with Jack Abramoff's lobbying partners and he intervened to block rival tribal casinos.

The AP also reported that Abramoff's billing records showed extensive contact with Reid over a 3 year period in which Reid collected more than $68,000 from Abramoff's firm, his partners and his clients.

To be sure, Republicans have also been implicated in the Abramoff mess. And if criminal activity can be substantiated, they should be prosecuted, and if convicted, punished.

But what about Harry?

Harry Reid has been very outspoken and critical of the dubious nature of the connections between Abramoff and some Republican legislators.

Which Democrats are going to be outspoken and critical about slick Harry Reid?