When a lawmaker is accused of corruption, and he or she is prepared to pronounce their innocence, they should generally avoid huge caveats. It appears Rep. Paul Gillmor (R-Ohio) hasn't quite learned the tricks of the trade.

As Al Kamen reported, Gillmor has a luxurious new home, alongside a golf course designed by Arnold Palmer, in suburban Columbus, Ohio. It's not Gillmor's official residence, however, because it's not in his congressional district.

Curiously, Gillmor pays the mortgage and taxes on the $1 million house, but the home isn't in the congressman's name, which appears nowhere on the property records. This gets a little tricky, but the house is apparently owned by trading company, Zenith Holding & Trading Corp, which has contributed to Gillmor's campaigns.

That's when it gets amusing.

Gillmor's office initially declined to confirm the address, saying Capitol Police suggested for security that lawmakers not give out such information, the paper reported.

But Gillmor acknowledged that he retained Zenith to buy the property on his behalf.

"There's nothing unethical or unusual," he told the paper. "It's all pretty much aboveboard." He said the deal was transparent because the Blade was able to trace it back to him, the paper said.

First, just because a newspaper reporter was able to eventually connect the dots doesn't make the deal "transparent."

Second, "pretty much" aboveboard?