CA-04: Out Come The Subpoenas

by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Maybe this is the reason that every registered Republican is jumping into the Republican primary for John Doolittle's seat:

GOP Rep. John Doolittle's two top aides have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury investigating ties between Doolittle, his wife and jailed lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The grand jury subpoenas from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia were issued to Chief of Staff Ron Rogers and Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Blankenburg. They were announced on the House floor as Congress returned from its August recess Tuesday after the aides informed the House speaker about the subpoenas, as required under House rules.

Doolittle, R-Calif., said in a statement that the aides would testify before the grand jury this week "with hopes of putting the matter to an end."

Yes, that's exactly what will happen.  The matter will end, maybe with somebody being brought to jail and booked, but it certainly will end.  Doolittle is still trying to blame this on his wife's payments from Abramoff in exchange for maybe/maybe-not "work," but of course there are dozens of connections between Doolittle himself and Abramoff.  It's unlikely that this is just about Mrs. Doolittle (who may have to spend some time in the slammer IN ADDITION to her husband).