Another day, another indictment

Interior Secretary Gale Norton's resignation came complete with questions about her connection to Jack Abramoff. Apparently no-one expected Bush aide Claude Allen's resignation to involve shady ties to disgraced lobbyists. And perhaps to everyone's amazement, he doesn't seem to have had any. Instead, Allen will be dealing with plain ol' larceny.

When Claude Allen, President Bush's longtime domestic-policy adviser, resigned suddenly on Feb. 9, it baffled administration critics and fans. The White House claimed that Allen was leaving to spend more time with his family, while the Washington Times speculated that the 45-year-old aide, a noted social conservative, might have quit to protest a new Pentagon policy about military chaplains. Allen himself never publicly explained the reason for his departure.

News today may shed light on the mystery of Allen's resignation. According to the Montgomery County Police Department, Allen was arrested yesterday and charged in a felony theft and a felony theft scheme.

I'm disappointed. We've come to expect a much higher level of shameless criminality from this administration. Would a little more creativity be too much to ask, Mr. Allen?