Kevin Mooney over at the Washington Examiner is doing an interesting series of articles looking at 17 Congressmen who received campaign contributions from unions with a significant history of corruption and embezzlement of member’s dues.

Mooney writes:

Among the five unions, there were a total of 71 convictions in federal courts since 2001 of felonies ranging from embezzlement and mail fraud to falsifying official reports to government and conspiracy.

Among those convicted were division presidents, vice presidents, secretary-treasurers and business managers. The amounts for the embezzlement convictions were from $5,000 to more than $100,000.

Today, Mooney focuses on Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Ohio who is a co-sponsor of the deceptively-named Employee Free Choice Act. According to Mooney:

Sen. Brown received the following dirty money: Communication Workers of America (PAC) $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. Boilermakers Union (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (PAC) $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. American Federation of Government Employees (PAC) $2,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. Service Employees International Union (PAC) $1,000 in 2008 election cycle; $5,000 in 2006 election cycle. Paper, Allied-Industrial Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (now part of U.S. Steelworkers of America) (PAC) $5,000 in 2008 election cycle; $10,000 in 2006 election cycle. PMA Group (PAC): $1,000 in 2008 election cycle.