Russ Baker, writing for TomPaine.com, makes what I think is the crucial point when it comes to tales of congressional corruption: It's not just an individual problem, it's an institutional one:

No matter how big the affair grows, though, it is likely to follow in the path of so many of its predecessors—distracting public attention from a larger and more important reality: Today, “the largest corruption scandal in a century” is not WatergateGate—it is the everyday performance of the U.S. government. The worst sleaze in Washington is mainly legal...

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Members of Congress spent $1 million of taxpayer money last year on leased cars including many gas-guzzling SUVs, like the Ford Expedition, and luxury cars, including one BMW 530i, according to Knight Ridder. One-hundred thirty six members of the House leased cars at the taxpayers’ expense last year (the Senate does not allow this perk). Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) drives around Harlem in a Cadillac DeVille, while Michael Ross (D-AR) has the most expensive leased a vehicle, a $1,248 a month Ford Expedition. At least 56 of the leased vehicles were SUVs.