The legal fallout from former lobbyist JackAbramoff's decision to cooperate with a federal corruption probe — andprovide evidence against an unknown number of high-level Washingtonofficials — remains to be seen. But the political effects, in thenation's capital and in many lawmakers' home states, have alreadybegun to emerge.

Abramoff today pleaded guilty to two fraud charges stemming from hispurchase of a Florida gambling boat fleet, a day after pleading guiltyto three felony counts of mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion.

Not surprisingly, Abramoff's former associates have scrambled todistance themselves from him — and his money. Politicians from bothsides of the aisle are returning campaign contributions from thedisgraced lobbyist. While those contributions may have been perfectlylegal, it's the political taint that may hold the bigger danger,analysts said.

"Members may escape a conviction for bribery but not escape thepolitical fallout," said Larry Noble, director of the Center forResponsive Politics in Washington.

A "Republican" Problem
The majority of Abramoff's donations and perks went to Republicans,and Democrats are working to frame the scandal as a "Republican"problem. They hope to tie it to other GOP scandals, including formerCalifornia Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's admission of acceptingbribes, and the indictment of Scooter Libby, Vice President DickCheney's chief of staff, in the ongoing CIA leak probe.

But as the parties head into this year's midterm elections — and lookahead to 2008 — the issue of corruption may provide the biggest liftto those who can campaign as "outsiders" arguing for reform. Althoughan anti-incumbent mood would likely indirectly benefit Democrats asthe minority party, there are Republicans who might try to seize thatmantle as well.

Former House Leader Newt Gingrich said he thought Abramoff and othersinvolved should go to jail, but that the scandal was also symptomaticof "a much larger and deeper problem" in Washington.

"I'll tell you what the city's first instinct is going to be," he saidat the Rotary Club in Washington today. "It's going to be to turnAbramoff into lobbyist-bashing — have the same system on the Hill,that is unhealthy, protect itself by passing a narrowly drawnanti-lobbyist provision while the same people go to the same PACfundraisers to raise the same money with the same cronies in the samemanner."

Gingrich was one of the primary architects of the GOP takeover ofCongress in 1994, when Republicans swept into office in part bypromising to rid Capitol Hill of Democratic corruption. Bush firstcampaigned for the White House as an outsider, too, promising torestore honor and integrity to the office, though he himself wasultimately ousted in part over an ethics scandal.

Returning Donations
Today the Republican National Committee said it would donate to theRed Cross $6,000 that was given directly to Bush's re-electioncampaign by Abramoff; his wife, Pam; and the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe,although the Democratic National Committee is calling on the RNC toreturn all the money Abramoff raised as a Bush Pioneer, some $100,000.

Other top Republicans followed suit. Former House Majority Leader TomDeLay's office said he would redirect $15,000 worth of past donationsmade by Abramoff and his wife to charities in his Texas district.

"The funds were donated in full compliance with federal law anddisclosed properly and publicly, but yesterday's admission of guiltand improper actions warranted our action to make something positivecome of all this by donating the money to local charities rather thanretaining it," said Shannon Flaherty, a spokeswoman.

Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., also planned to donate to charity $8,500 hereceived from Abramoff over the years. And on Tuesday, House SpeakerDennis Hastert's office said the Illinois Republican would returnAbramoff's contributions as well.

Lawmakers are also hastening to tighten ethics rules — and possiblypass new legislation — regarding lobbying.

"I will be working with colleagues this session to examine and act onany necessary changes to improve transparency and accountability forour body when it comes to lobbying," Senate Majority Leader BillFrist, R-Tenn., said today in a statement.

Local Races
Still, the scandal's political effects can already be seen in somelawmakers' home districts and states. Montana's Democratic Party hasalready run ads against Republican Senator Conrad Burns on the issue.Burns has returned some $150,000 from Abramoff, and recent polls haveshown that race narrowing.

Other races could be affected in more indirect ways.
"Collateral damage could be somebody like Mike DeWine," said JenniferDuffy, a political analyst at the Cook Political Report. "He is fromOhio and he is a Republican — and ethics is a big deal there."

Ohio's governor pleaded guilty this summer to violating state ethicslaws, and the only lawmaker singled out in the Abramoff courtdocuments so far for accepting gifts in exchange for certain actions —albeit not by name — was Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio. On Tuesday, theColumbus Dispatch reported that Ohio Republican leaders would ask Neyto resign if he is indicted. Ney has said he is innocent of anyviolations.

On the other hand, a lawmaker like Lincoln Chaffee, R-R.I., whose seatDemocrats have targeted, is unlikely to be affected by the scandalbecause he's already "the ultimate outsider," said Duffy. AndDemocrats could still find some of their own implicated as theAbramoff investigation continues.