Politics in St. Louis get interesting

St. Louis is often accused of having an inferiority complex vis-a-vis Chicago and it looks like, if the latest political scandal is to be believed, that St. Louis is taking a few pages from the 'Chicago-style politics' we keep hearing about.
-Update Both Jeff Smith and Steve Brown have just announced their resignations.

First, State Senator Jeff Smith, a professor at Washington University and a politician for whom a number of my college buddies worked, is apparently under federal investigation for actions undertaken during the 2004 campaign.

Next, State Representative Steve Brown is expected to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy stemming from the same race for being involved in distributing anonymous information critical of Russ Carnahan (now a Representative from MO).

Finally, a Democratic political operative (what the hell is a political operative?) Milton H. "Skip" Ohlsen III, is being connected with a bombing that occurred in Clayton last year.

Just what the hell is happening?!

I understand how politicians could get tripped up in those pesky campaign finance laws, and might even want to write anonymous hate mail about their competition, but a Democratic operative who makes points with explosives?

This is St. Louis, not Kabul...

We'll keep our ears to the ground, but in a a small-town big-city like St. Louis, it shouldn't be long before more information comes out.