Republican congressman Darrell Issa wants an investigation launched into Rep. Joe Sestak's claim that he was offered a job by the White House to drop out of the race for the U.S Senate seat currently held by Arlen Specter.

Issa cited a federal statute barring federal employees from using “official authority for the purpose of interfering with, or affecting, the nomination or the election of any candidate” to the U.S. Senate and other seats. Such a violation could carry a fine or imprisonment up to a year, according to the statute.

"While the White House may think this is politics as usual, what is spectacularly unusual is when a candidate — a U.S. Congressman no less — freely acknowledges such a proposal,” said Issa in the letter. “Almost always candidates keep quiet about such deals, and for good reason — they are against the law."

The White House, according to a report in the Philly Inquirer, vociferously denied Sestak's claim, which makes even more sense now given such offers are "against the law."

Either Joe Sestak lied about being made the offer in order to drum up more interest in his campaign or someone in the White House is lying to protect a top administration official who committed a crime.

I'm going with the White House lying on this one.

But you've got to love Issa's line about how "almost always candidates keep quiet about such deals" as if breaking the law on Capitol is a matter of routine.

The country's in the very best of hands.

UPDATE: For some reason we can stop picturing Rahm Emanuel angrily coming up to Sestak, naked, in the congressional locker room, pointing his finger at his chest and shouting, "You're going to drop out of that race and take what we've offered or we will bury you."

We blame retiring Rep. Eric Massa for this awful picture in our heads.