Hastert spends $70,000 on trial lawyers to keep his butt out of jail.

http://politicalinsider.com/2007/04/members_report_large_legal_fee.html

Members Report Large Legal Fees

"More than a dozen sitting and former House Members -- including at least two who do not appear to be under investigation -- made significant legal payments from their campaign accounts in the first three months of the year," reports Roll Call.

Rep. Don Young (R-AK) shelled out $25,000 in legal fees to Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL) also reported paying $29,000 to Wiley Rein.

"Last year's ethics committee investigation into ex-Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) cost a handful of lawmakers hefty legal bills during the first quarter of 2007." Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) "reported six payments totaling $70,000 to McKenna Long & Aldridge."

That could buy a lot at the corner deli.

Which lobbyists are helping these guys out in the hopes that they will survive another election so they can continue doing the business of the corporate interests?

I really don't think it has anything to do with the ethics committee while they were in office. It has to be something they've been accused of, or are being investigated for doing that we haven't heard about yet. Hmmmm....I wonder whatit is? I've seen lots of retainers, and the size of them sure looks like the problem is much more serious than a speeding ticket or a traffic accident!