The Musto indictment

Bolstering Pennsylvania's claim to the ignominious title of "State of Corruption" is a federal public-corruption indictment of a 28-year state senator.

Sen. Raphael "Ray" Musto, D-Pittston, faces two bribery-related counts, two counts of making false statements to the FBI and single counts of mail fraud and wire fraud. He's among 27 indicted in the same investigation that uncovered alleged bribery of Luzerne County judges in exchange for sending juvenile offenders to a detention center co-owned by a lawyer accused of that bribery.

Mr. Musto allegedly took $25,000 from a contractor unidentified by prosecutors but identified by Scranton and Wilkes-Barre newspapers as the same that built the detention center. In exchange, prosecutors contend, Musto sought for the contractor state grants and loans related to a multimillion-dollar development in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

The allegations reflect the all-too-familiar "pay-to-play" mentality that all too long has made Harrisburg the Cesspool on the Susquehanna. And while Musto's lawyer is confident that a jury will clear his client, it's rare indeed that the feds lose such cases.

Musto's retiring Dec. 1, so, one way or another, he's out of the Senate — and leaving under a cloud. Good riddance.