With Bob Packwood now gone from the U.S. Senate, his lasting legacy may not be a long line of sexual harassment accusers, but the impetus of campaign finance reform on Capitol Hill.

Packwood’s diaries, which contributed to his resigning from Congress, contain references to potentially illegal behavior regarding fund-raising and political contributions to Packwood and possibly other Congressmen.

While Packwood insists the references to corporations giving money to his campaign in an illegal fashion, destruction of documents and requests that businesses and political action groups contribute to his legal defense funds are just witty jokes, it calls into question how much of this is going on in Washington.

A thorough investigation into Congress members’ funding procedures has often been called for by supporters of campaign finance reform. If Packwood’s diaries have a grain of truth, they may be imperative.