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Javier Sanchez did not admit any guilt, but has agreed to do 32 hours of community work. He was accused of taking $200 in cash from envelopes in the congresswoman's office.

The sting operation sounds like something from a crime novel. What was allegedly taken by the Minnesota lawmaker's assistant? An envelope marked "petty cash" that had $80 in it and maybe another marked "birthday money" that held $120.

Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota has announced she will not seek re-election next year. That's taken some of her constituents by surprise. They are wondering what's behind her decision not to campaign for a fifth term.

The Minnesota lawmaker parlayed a cable-ready presence and unshakable, if often untrue, message to national stature.

The congresswoman says she won't be seeking a fifth term. She does not rule out getting back into politics in the future. In 2012 she made a bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Her fortunes quickly rose and fell.

Members of the House known for notorious or offensive comments have lost their seats in Tuesday's elections. On the other hand, some are coming back.

More than nine months after dropping out of the race for the Republican nomination for president, Rep. Michele Bachmann is back on the campaign trail. But this time it's in her Minnesota congressional district, where she faces an underfunded but tough Democratic opponent.

Congressman Paul Ryan is well known as a deficit hawk and supporter of small government. His stances on other hot-button issues though — from abortion to gun rights — have received less attention. Melissa Block talks with David Drucker, associate politics editor at Roll Call, about where the presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee stands on the issues that have been less central to his public persona.

The former GOP presidential candidate is making news of his own, even while fulfilling his current role as surrogate for Mitt Romney. Could a daytime talk show be next on the list?

Polls showed public support for the movement falling off significantly. But the Tea Party remains a force in many states. Its favored candidate for the U.S. Senate won big in Texas last week, sending the strongest signal yet that the movement will be a factor this fall.