In the Web of a Political Sex Scandal

The latest sex scandal to rock the Capitol has the usual elements -- salacious e-mails and marital infidelity -- but it is also a cautionary tale of take-no-prisoners political warfare, fought in the messy, even lawless, world of the blogosphere.

It began with a few e-mails posted on a western New York Web site, www.politicsny.net, that allegedly documented affairs between Assemblyman Sam Hoyt, D-Buffalo, and women who were described as Capitol interns. The initial blog post came with a threat -- "Everyday we will publish another e-mail if Hoyt has not resigned the race."

Hoyt admitted Tuesday to "breaking my marriage vows," according to The Buffalo News. But he insists that he has broken no laws or the Assembly's rules banning fraternization between lawmakers and interns. The revelation brought quick action from the Assembly Ethics Committee, which launched an investigation less than 24 hours after the story broke.

State records show that the women believed to have been involved were not interns during the alleged romances, according to the News.

At the center of this story is Joseph Illuzzi, the man who posted the e-mails that started the storm.