Instead, many are devoted entirely to exposing what they say are Mr. Seabrook's flaws and ethical troubles.

Mr. Bradley's ethical troubles come at a time of mounting political troubles.

Now, even some of the governor's closest allies are asking whether his unabashed attachment to Waterbury, once viewed as endearing, could be partly to blame for his current ethical troubles.

Many of the Democrats who endorsed his candidacy despite his ethical troubles suggested that once in office he would resign, allowing a more palatable candidate to be selected.

But even now, he contended, the committee's findings showed that "the Speaker is in deep ethical trouble."

Pungent critiques of the legal profession are common enough these days, particularly in the wake of the ethical and financial troubles that have beset some of the best-known firms.

While some of that loss in popularity can be attributed to the sluggish economy, his administration's ethical troubles have remained at the center of attention.

Despite Mr. Torricelli's prominent political profile, his ethical troubles over the last few years have soured many voters.

But it is the subpoena's request for specific information on Mr. Rowland's gifts that gets to the core of his ethical troubles.

A telltale sign of ethical trouble is a policy that is harsher on receiving gifts than on giving them.