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Rosty's Revenge
![[Dan Rostenkowski]](rostenkowski.jpg)
(TIME, April 22) -- Even in disgrace, Dan Rostenkowski, the former
chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has managed to leave his
influential imprint. During two years of aggressive court
challenges that led up to Rostenkowski's plea bargain last week,
his lawyers blazed a trail of legal precedents that could
significantly benefit future suspected congressional culprits.
One decision makes it more difficult to prosecute breaches of
less-than-crystal-clear congressional rules; it has already been
used to throw out charges against former Ohio Representative
Mary Rose Oakar for writing bad checks to the now defunct House
bank. Another Rosty precedent is expected to make it harder for
prosecutors to pursue members when otherwise illegal behavior is
intertwined with official duties.
TIME This Week
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