Welcome to the power circles, Mr. Steele.....

This piece may be a "hit." (I'd put my money on a Repub motivated source.)

Michael S. Steele, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, arranged for his 2006 Senate campaign to pay a defunct company run by his sister for services that were never performed, his finance chairman from that campaign has told federal prosecutors.

Here's the official WaPo explanation of how the revelation came about. (Do I believe in accidents?)

The U.S. attorney's office inadvertently sent the confidential document, a defense sentencing memorandum filed under seal, to The Washington Post after the newspaper requested the prosecution's sentencing memorandum.

At this point, it's only "allegations" from Steele's former campaign finance chair who was seeking leniency on drug charges, but if you read the whole piece, it smells pretty bad. Using campaign funds to pay his sister for a "no job," illegally hiding money from other Republicans..... Somebody wants Steele dirtied.

It may amount to nothing, but WaPo front page, worth a read.

Later: Steele's camp makes their response to the NYTimes, not the WaPo who ran the article.

The questionable payment to his sister's company was for "for catering and Internet-related services." (Which are commonly handled by the same company? Which are commonly conducted by a pediatrician?)