While campaigning for reelection in 1994, Illinois Representative Mel Reynolds was charged with sexual assault and aggravated sexual abuse. It turns out that in 1992 he had carried on a very inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old campaign volunteer.

It looked bad, but the congressman campaigned on and, being uncontested, ultimately won his election.

In August, 1995, Reynolds was convicted of the charges, and still held onto his seat in the House of Representatives. It wasn't until October of that year that he finally resigned to serve a 5-year prison term. In April, 1997, Reynolds was convicted of 15 unrelated counts of bankfraud and lying to investigators from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

After Reynolds finally got out of prison, he jumped back into the game by challenging incumbent Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. in the Democratic primaries for his old seat in the House. This did not go well. Reynolds finished the primary with only 6% of the vote, compared to Jackson's 88%.