Even though a new Washington Post report today suggests D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) may not actually be a target of the corruption investigation that ensnared his chief of staff, the D.C. Republican Committee keeps hounding him like he definitely is.

After penning a letter to Graham yesterday asking that he take a leave of absence until the investigation is complete, D.C. Republican Chairman Robert Kabel followed up today with a letter to Council Chair Vincent Gray.

“With the recent arrest of Ted Loza, chief of staff to Councilmember Jim Graham and reports circulating that Councilmember Jim Graham is under investigation from the FBI, the DC Republican Committee encourages you to recommend Councilmember Graham take a leave of absence until the FBI has concluded its investigation,” he wrote. “Anything short of Graham taking a time of leave will suggest that under your leadership, the DC Council embraces the appearance of unethical behavior,” he added, citing the council’s newly endorsed ethics rules.

Two letters in as many days and robocalls to 10,000 Ward 1 voters denouncing Graham? The D.C. GOP must really believe in strongly enforcing government ethics, right? Or maybe they just smell a rare fighting chance to oust a long-serving incumbent Democrat. When asked whether the Republicans were looking to run someone against Graham in 2010, D.C. GOP Executive Director Paul Craney simply responded, “Yes.”

Now, Graham easily won the Democratic primary in 2006 and faced no opposition in the general election, taking 97 percent of the vote. Ted Loza’s arrest might make Graham face some uncomfortable questioning from his constituents in the coming contest, but it’s a pretty big stretch to think that they’ll suddenly start voting Republican – no matter how hard the D.C. GOP hammers him.