The investigation of lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his financial involvement with perhaps as many as 33 members of Congress is a progressive lifting of the lid on Washington and how American government works at its very worst.

It is a little like steroids and American sport: No one who knows anything about lobbying, money and campaign finance in Washington could have imagined that what goes on would have been any different. At the same time, it is so bad and it tells the American people so much about the low standard of conduct in Washington, that we are left with the legendary line of the boy to crooked White Sox star "Shoeless" Joe Jackson: "Say it ain't so, Joe."

Michael Scanlon -- who was Mr. Abramoff's partner, a top aide to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and a kingpin lobbyist -- pleaded guilty Monday and is cooperating with federal prosecutors. Agents are investigating whether Mr. Scanlon and Mr. Abramoff illegally shook millions of dollars out of various clients, including Indian tribes, of whom they spoke in racist terms. Indications are they may have used some of the money to obtain favors for their clients from members of Congress. Tools used by the lobbyists to court the legislators included cash, luxury golf trips overseas, open tabs at the upscale restaurant Mr. Abramoff owned in Washington and other acts of tender care.

One target of the inquiry so far is Rep. Bob Ney, a senior Republican from southeastern Ohio who is chairman of the House Administration Committee. As many as 32 other members of Congress are reportedly under investigation for having benefited from the ministrations of these two.

There is reason to believe that the prosecution of Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon will be pursued to the point where at least those members of Congress involved with them will be exposed to daylight, and to retribution by voters at the ballot box in 2006.

What is worrisome, however, is that lobbyists like Mr. Abramoff and Mr. Scanlon and the members of Congress with whom they were involved are probably not unique in Washington. We can hope that the prosecution of this case and revelation of the activities of the congressional beneficiaries will scare at least some public servants and those who court them back onto the straight and narrow.