If Rep. Bill Jefferson (D-LA) didn't exist, Republicans would have to invent him. And yet, well ... Jefferson, you'll remember, is the congressman from New Orleans whose name popped up late last summer in his own public corruption scandal.

One of his former aides, Brett Pfeffer, is expected to plead guilty today at the U.S. District Court in Alexandria to charges of bribing an unnamed public official.

You've got to figure that's not good news for Rep. Jefferson.