A congressional watchdog group says 17 lawmakers are currently under investigation for allegedly breaking ethical standards. Charges include steering earmarked funds toward associates, tax evasion and receiving preferential mortgage rates.

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says 13 of the accused are Democrats and four are Republicans. Those four are Don Young of Alaska, Jerry Lewis and Gary Miller of California and Pennsylvania's Tim Murphy.

The Democratic side features Senators Roland Burris of Illinois, Kent Conrad of North Dakota, Chris Dodd of Connecticut and New Jersey's Robert Menendez. House members being investigated include John Murtha of Pennsylvania, Linda and Loretta Sanchez of California, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel of New York. The Politico reports that Rangel has now spent more than $1 million in his defense.