Today we get our first of hopefully many scoundrels going down in the Abramoff/Delay connection:

A former top aide to Rep. Tom DeLay pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy and promised to cooperate with the government’s investigation of lobbying fraud.

Tony Rudy, DeLay’s former deputy chief of staff, was told by a U.S. District judge that he could receive up to five years in prison but the sentence could be much less depending on his cooperation with prosecutors in the case, which earlier brought a guilty plea from lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Rudy is the second former aide to DeLay to plead guilty in the scandal.

As part of the deal for Rudy to plead guilty to the single felony conspiracy count, prosecutors agreed not pursue other possible charges against him or his wife.

Funny how all these people are now so eager to cooperate. You really can’t blame them. As much as the Republicans like to boast about loyalty, that loyalty is quickly over shadowed by a sense of self survival (or keeping your ass out of jail). Now hopefully this aide has some good dirt on Delay he is willing to share.

Now once all this is over and if Delay does get indicted, I wonder if he will still be smiling a big grin on the next mug shot.