John Boehnerhead

House Minority Leader John Boehner, addressing a closed-door conference of Republican House members, gave a clean bill of health to two California colleagues under federal investigation: Representatives Jerry Lewis and Gary Miller.

If he were not convinced of Lewis' integrity, Boehner told the conference, he would not have approved his continuation as top Republican on the Appropriations Committee. Lewis is being investigated for helping a lobbyist direct millions of dollars in earmarks for clients.

Lewis did not address the conference, but Miller pleaded innocent of wrongdoing in California land transactions. That won Miller a standing ovation, but a few colleagues noted the resemblance to a similar speech to the conference last year by then Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio. On Jan. 19, Ney was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal.

Boner may not be dirty but if there is anything into being guilty by association then that jerk needs some time in jail.