Michaud: Voters don't mind tainted politicians?

Voters can be forgiving.

Just ask Marion Barry — the controversial former Washington, D.C., mayor who served six months in the federal pen on drug charges. At age 78, he was re-elected to his council seat two years ago with 88 percent of the vote.

He’s one is a string of former officials who have sought forgiveness from voters — and gotten it.

This election cycle there were several lawmakers tainted by criminal investigations — and on Tuesday night, several won.

In Staten Island, Republican Rep. Michael G. Grimm led his Democratic challenger, Domenic Recchia, 53 to 34 percent in polling before Election Day, even with a 20-count federal indictment hanging over him. He’s charged with employing undocumented immigrants and then lying about it, from his days running a Manhattan restaurant called Healthalicious. He defeated Recchia easily. 

In Queens, Democratic Assemb. William Scarborough has been socked with 11 federal charges for allegedly cheating on his travel and lodging expense accounts, to the tune of $40,000. Scarborough faces additional charges in state court after he allegedly used $38,000 in campaign money for personal benefit. He won with 85 percent of the vote in an uncontested race.

In Brooklyn, state Sen. John Sampson, a former Democratic majority leader, faces federal charges that he made false statements, concealed records and tampered with a witness. He will go to trial early next year, but his East New York and Canarsie district re-elected him overwhelmingly.

In Binghamtom, Republican state Sen. Tom Libous is expected to fight a one-count indictment, after he allegedly provided false statements to FBI agents. Federal investigators were looking into whether he used his influence to get his son a job at a law firm. Libous easily won re-election.

In Nassau County, Democrat David Denenberg withdrew from his race for State Senate in September, after his employer accused him of defrauding a client of more than $2 million by overbilling for legal services. Denenberg’s name remained on the ballot, however, and he appeared headed for a 40 percent vote tally – better than some others on Long Island who were actually campaigning.

Did voters even register his legal troubles?

Like Barry, former Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Buddy Cianci tried for some redemption. After serving as mayor for 21 years, he spent 4.5 years in prison for racketeering. He lost the mayor's race to a political newcomer, Democrat Jorge Elorza, who took 53 percent of the vote.

And former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, a Democrat with an eight-year prison sentence behind him, also for racketeering, was vying for a seat in Congress. He narrowly won a primary Tuesday, and moves on to a Dec. 6 runoff.

Perhaps voters opt for the crook they know.