“If you took out all corrupt politicians, you’d take out 90 percent and be left with us 10 percent.”

Those are the words of Boston city councilor Chuck Turner on an undercover FBI recording.  Right up to the moment the FBI arrested him this morning for taking a $1000 bribe from an undercover agent and then lying to the FBI, Turner presumably counted himself among the “us 10 percent” of honest politicians.  (Note:  “Bribe” was the word used by the news media.  The FBI affidavit supporting the charges cites specific violations alleged.)

Councilor Turner’s arrest is apparently an outgrowth of the earlier arrest of former Massachusetts state senator Dianne Wilkerson for allegedly accepting $23,500 in bribes from undercover agents.  Wilkerson, who had recently lost her re-election bid, is also an attorney and faces disciplinary action by the Massachusetts Bar Association.

If the FBI is willing to investigate public officials for allegedly accepting bribes of $23,500 and $1,000, imagine what it might do if the amount was larger, say $50,000.