Not too bright

Below is a recent history of Minneapolis City Councilmembers engaging in stupid criminal acts for minimal financial reward and then ultimately finding their butts in federal prison.

• 2001: Councilmember Brian Herron pled guilty to extorting money from a business owner having problems with the city's inspection department. Total take: $12,000. He was sentenced to 12 months in prison.
  
• 2002: Councilmember Joe Biernat was convicted on federal counts related to his acceptance of $2,700 in free plumbing work. His sentence was 21 months in prison and a fine of $10,000.
  

Now we have the latest embarrassment.

Minneapolis City Council Member Dean Zimmermann took $7,200 cash in exchange for support on zoning changes, according to a federal affidavit filed Friday.

The search warrant affidavit claims the FBI had probable cause to believe Zimmermann violated the law by accepting "bribes in exchange for official acts."

In a highly detailed six-page portion of the affidavit, the FBI claims to have both audio and videotapes of Zimmermann taking cash from an unidentified cooperating witness on three separate occasions in June, July and August. Zimmermann, 63, discussed with the witness cash contributions for his campaign and for personal debts in exchange for zoning help, the FBI said.

I really feel sorry for the residents of Minneapolis. They are taxed to death in comparison with the surrounding suburbs, yet consistently find that two bit hacks are running their city government.