This summer, a Democratic state representative, a lawyer and a major coal company executive were convicted of federal charges including conspiracy, wire fraud and bribery.

The coverage of this story had actually been pretty good. The facts are clear and the villains are easily defined, but now the trial is over and it is time to weaponize the story.

The bad guys? The same people the media always demonizes: Republican elected officials.

This photo is used by AL.com:

The problem? Most of those people are not even mentioned in the story, while some have nothing to do with the scandal.

This mess has already been used in scurrilous and questionable allegations against Republican Congressman Mo Brooks, that are not substantiated by the facts.

What parts do Brooks and other Republican Congressmen play in this scheme?

The only link to the Congressmen pictured is a signature on a letter to the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), asking for a 60-day public comment period — a request that was granted by an EPA ran by Obama appointees.

There is no corruption there, there is no quid-pro-quo, there is nothing. This is just an attempt to smear them for no good reason.

This is innuendo for innuendo sake, and if you are a Democrat, there is no penalty for doing it.

The political media like to tell us how important their job is. Maybe they should start proving it by investigating false claims by political figures instead of enabling them.

@TheDaleJackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a conservative talk show  from 7-11 am weekdays on WVNN