NY state legislature has paid plenty to staffers alleging misconduct by legislators. Same in US Congress. And the settlements usually include silence and whatever public record there is, is seldom very public.
And a good part of this is so the legislators will be re-elected. The settlements are from taxpayer money, which is a thousand times worse than “business expenses” and buying up stories.
There is almost never scandal and never prosecution for the settlements.
It almost makes one accept critical theory - that the purpose of laws is to benefit the powerful - them that has, gets.
Indeed.
Some of the greasiest stories about this sort of misconduct come out of the US CONgrift and various state legislatures.