Culture of Corruption, Great Northern Tier Edition

Hey, Rod Blagojevich fans! Looks like there are other politicians with corruption problems of their own!

Federal investigators are looking into allegations that a longtime friend and benefactor tried to steer money to U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, the Pioneer Press has learned.

Agents with the FBI have talked to or made efforts to talk to people in Texas familiar with the allegations, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Houston is where the first of two lawsuits was filed alleging Nasser Kazeminy, a Bloomington financier, tried to steer $100,000 to Coleman via his wife's Minneapolis employer. The second suit, filed in Delaware, alleges Kazeminy initially tried to get money directly to the senator.

Both Coleman and Kazeminy have denied any wrongdoing, and Coleman last month said he welcomes an investigation.

Because if he's in the Senate and priming for a 2016 Presidential run, it'll be easier to fight the corruption charges, right?

Actually, it's still an open question whether or not Coleman will remain in the Senate. The recount is still ongoing, and according to the Franken campaign, if the absentee ballots are properly counted, their man will prevail.

UPDATE: Jesse Jackson, Jr. may have something to worry about as well.

Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.

According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Rod Blagojevich" with something "tangible up front."

Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago whom he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."

Jackson said, "I don't know" when asked whether he was Candidate No. 5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation."

The benchmark question for Jackson is what is the meaning of the word "emissaries." Were they empowered by Jackson to speak for him? Do we know who they are and what they said?