I suspect it is really all about political donations and sweetheart deals under the table.
All politicians will tell you that money, and lots of it, is needed to run a political campaign for office. Those donations usually come with strings attached.
As for the sweetheart deals, it costs money to live in the nation’s capitol. A loan with a very low interest rate really helps a family man - until the loan organization threatens to call in the loan unless you vote a certain way!
Savez-vous?
It’s most likely both blackmail AND money. Regardless of the source of Conservative-Turned-RINOism, it’s nothing a good private investigator couldn’t find. Sex with prostitutes, money, a ménage a trios with the esteemed colleague across the aisle and HIS prostitute, money, cross-dressing in your prostitute’s lingerie, money... How hard could it be to find?
Gary Hart comes to mind here...