Don't Drop The Soap, Jack (UPDATED)

Via Washington Post:

MIAMI, March 29 -- Jack A. Abramoff, the once-powerful Republican lobbyist at the center of a major corruption scandal, was sentenced Wednesday to five years and 10 months in prison for his role in the fraudulent purchase of a fleet of casino cruise ships. An associate received the same sentence.

Abramoff still hopes that the Big Guy will forgive him:

Wearing a gray double-breasted suit and appearing somber, Abramoff said he was "very much chastened and profoundly remorseful over the reckless and hurtful things I have done in my life." He added, "I can only hope that the Almighty and those whom I have wronged will forgive me my trespasses."

The Post notes that this was the minimum sentence for Jacko's crime - 5 years, 10 months for a good ol' boy isn't a minimum anything. Furthermore, this sentence was for a crime unrelated to his well publicized lobbying scandals that will surely implicate members of Congress.

One last point - The Fix's Chris Cillizza, on Hardball today, rightly noted that Abramoff isn't going anywhere; the meat of the Congressional end of the Abramoff scandal will be heating up at the same time as the midterms. Democrats can and should use ethics as a MAJOR issue in the election. The Republicans have handed them this issue on a silver platter and they need to exploit it.

UPDATE: I meant to include this in the original posting. It's priceless:
















At least he looks good...