As long as we're on the topic of Rep. Sweeney's (R-NY) visit to the Marianas, let's return to a point that to some of you will be old news, but is still worth restating.

TPM Reader RT does the honors ...

What no one seems to want to report is that Tom DeLay promised the garment industry in the Marianna Islands that the government would stay out of their sweat-shop affairs. DeLay got Abramhoff to get Mehlman to make sure the right guys were in control. That’s because the garment industry of the Islands had basically kidnapped Asian woman who paid a price to get to the United States for work. Since the Marianna’s are a US commonwealth, the garment industry can technically put “Made in the USA” labels on their products, but in reality, the garments are made in mediocre-paying sweat shops by captive labor who are also forced into prostitution and also forced to get abortions if they get pregnant. This is what DeLay, Mehlman, Abramhoff and company were getting paid to protect. Let’s get that story out, please.

All true. A hideously sordid tale.

Here's the story of another member of Congress who went to the floor of the House on Abramoff's behalf to denounce a teenager filipino girl who was held captive as a sex slave on the islands. This stuff isn't just about misfiled disclosures and skyboxes. It's real dark.