Yesterday, on Fox News, Rep. Chris Cannon (R-UT) referred to fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias as "an idiot."  Think Progress has the video and a further explanation from Cannon's press secretary.

Last year, CREW gave Rep. Cannon a "dishonorable mention" and named him to our list of "members to watch" when we released our report, Beyond DeLay.   That report documents the most corrupt members of Congress.  Here's what we wrote about Cannon:

Chris Cannon is a fifth-term member of Congress representing the 3rd district of Utah. His ethics issues stem from abuse of his position to benefit his brother Joseph Cannon, a registered lobbyist.

Joseph Cannon leads a team of ten lobbyists for the law and lobbying firm, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Representing almost a dozen lobbying clients and specializing in environmental issues, Mr. Cannon has repeatedly sought the assistance of Rep. Cannon to push issues on behalf of his clients. Rep. Cannon has a financial interest in his brother’s lobbying success because Joseph Cannon owes him more than $250,000 from his unsuccessful 1992 campaign for the U.S. Senate.

In July 2006, at his brother’s request, Rep. Cannon joined three other members in signing a letter that Mr. Cannon’s firm helped draft to Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, urging a congressional hearing into a proposed contract that would permit Verisign, Inc. to increase the wholesale price it charges for each dot-com address. Mr. Cannon represents Network Solutions, a company opposed to the contract because it would result in the company paying higher fees to Verisign.

Here, not only has Rep. Cannon used his position for his brother’s financial benefit, but because his brother owes him $250,000, he has a vested interest in his brother’s financial success. In effect, by assisting his brother, Rep. Cannon is improving his own financial status as well.

Rep. Cannon’s actions on behalf of his brother’s client violates the prohibition against members taking any official actions for the prospect of personal gain for themselves or anyone else. His actions also violate House Rule XXIII, which requires all members of the House to conduct themselves “at all times in a manner that reflects creditably on the House."