What a total surprise in the findings of the Senate Select Committee on Ethics: Sen. Conrad is declared - what? Innocent of any wrongdoing? Not exactly. However, this statement clears up the matter entirely: The committee could find "no substantial credible evidence to conclude the lawmakers violated Senate ethics rules."

I suppose we, the interested public, should be much relieved with this finding. We should be impressed at the expeditious conduct of this investigation, and the care taken by the committee to not abuse the busy schedule of Sen. Conrad by putting him on the witness stand under oath. No need to do that since Sen. Conrad had previously issued explanations how this sweetheart loan was arranged without his having the slightest inkling that it might be a special deal. After all, if you can't believe the word of a sitting U.S. senator, who can you believe?

The conclusion of the committee was this stern advice to the senators, "Use more caution when obtaining loans." Kind of a variation of the old saying: You didn't do anything wrong, and don't do it again.