is the realization that they're all enmeshed in a web of guilt--that everyone of them that took money they didn't even need to gain or keep a seat in Congress was making a commitment to keep secrets and follow the party line.
In a sense, these political "donations" are a sort of blackmail, designed to insure compliance when the time comes.
For want of a better term, I'm referring to them as "anticipatory bribes."  It's pretty clear that Foley was prepared to say, "you took my money; now you owe me."
Who knows what other secrets are being covered up?