Whatever a person's role in the public sphere is, be it elected, appointed, or entirely voluntary, when the confidence of a majority of one's constituents, the privilege of public service, one's public oath, if any - and one's claimed private oath - are not enough to preserve and, over time, strengthen one's courage in faithful, truthful service, an individual moral corruption is present.
When such corruption appears in multiple members of a body of public servants, governmental integrity and function begin to fail.
Identifying public leaders to whom the power of their roles and renown is more important than humility of service, respect for others (even if we disagree), and courage in truth telling is rarely easy - particularly when we contributed to their power, or acquiesced in its growth. And removing such leaders from their roles is, because only citizens can do it, inherently more difficult than professional investigation and prosecution of corruption for breaking the law.
