Oh. Bad, bad days for Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH).

We seem to have arrived at the run-for-the-hills phase of the Ney probe. Roll Call's John Bresnahan is reporting (sub.req.) that three of Ney's key staffers are quitting their jobs with the ensnared congressman.

Will Heaton, his Chief of Staff and Brian Walsh, his long-suffering communications director are both leaving. And Chris Otillo, his legislative director, apparently bailed last Friday.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the nomenclature of the congressman's staff, that's pretty much it.

Not that there aren't more people. But that's the troika.

Another good sign is Matt Parker, Ney's District director, just got tagged with a subpoena.

Walsh told Bresnahan he thanked Ney "for the chance to work for him, which was great", thus showing that Walsh may have to have a period of post-Ney detox because he can work out of the habit of making comically ridiculous statements.