AP’s got the scoop on two Democratic congressmen, not just beleaguered GOP Rep. Tom DeLay, who received travel expenses initially paid by lobbyist Jack Abramoff on his credit card or by his firm. The Dems are Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, who like DeLay, says he was unaware of the payments and Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, who did not return several calls from AP seeking comment.

Meanwhile, GOP Rep. Eric Cantor’s ties to Abramoff are under scrutiny.

And the Seattle Times has a profile of Abramoff’s ex-employer, law titans Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds.

In related news, Dem Rep. Norm Dicks of Washington “took full responsibility”
for allowing a lobbying firm to cover part of the cost of a trip he took to a military conference three months ago, a violation of House ethics rules.

Sez Captain Ed: “No wonder DeLay wanted the ethics probe to continue. At this rate, he may well neutralize ten or twenty representatives on the other side of the aisle before anyone lays a glove on him.”

Those backfire flames are hot.