House indictments
Representative Tom DeLay, Republican of Texas
2005 Delay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on a charge of criminal conspiracy, in connection with illegal corporate political donations.
He has temporarily stepped down as the House majority leader.
Representative James Traficant, Democrat of Ohio
2002 Traficant was convicted on charges of bribery, conspiracy, and racketeering. He was expelled from the House. Traficant is serving an eight-year prison term; he is scheduled for release in 2009.
Representative Dan Rostenkowski, Democrat of Illinois
1994 Rostenkowski was investigated on allegations that he had diverted federal money and campaign contributions to his personal use. Rostenkowski gave up his chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges, served 15 months in prison, and was pardoned by President Clinton in 2000.
Representative Patrick Swindall, Republican of Georgia
1988 Swindall was indicted on perjury charges for lying to a federal grand jury investigating a drug-money laundering operation. He was convicted on nine counts. Swindall was sentenced to one year in prison, paid a $30,000 fine, and was disbarred by the Georgia Bar Association.
Representative Michael Myers, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative John Murphy, Democrat of New York
Representative Frank Thompson, Democrat of New Jersey
Representative John Jenrette, Democrat of South Carolina
Representative Raymond Lederer, Democrat of Pennsylvania
Representative Richard Kelly, Republican of Florida
1980 All were accused of involvement in Abscam, in which FBI agents impersonated Arab businessmen and offered lawmakers money in return for official favors. Myers was expelled; he served about 20 months in prison. Thompson and Murphy were sentenced to three years; Jenrette to two years; and Lederer to one year. Kelly's judgment was overturned in 1982 after a judge ruled that the FBI's persistence amounted to entrapment. But in 1984, a higher court reinstated the conviction and Kelly served 13 months in prison. Also, Senator Harrison Williams , a Democrat from New Jersey, resigned from office during an expulsion motion after his conviction. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
SOURCES: Roll Call, news reports
Kathleen Hennrikus/The Boston Globe 