Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (pictured) says she will pay back the college scholarship money that she gave to her relatives from the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Foundation.

The Dallas Morning News, which broke the story, says Johnson (D-Texas) gave 23 scholarships, totaling $25,000, to two of her grandsons, two of her grandnephews, and to the son and daughter of a district aide since 2005.

The private money came from the CBC Foundation, which supposedly operates separately from the CBC, and represents the 42 black lawmakers in Congress. The foundation has clearly stated rules that scholarship applicants cannot be related to the foundation, staff, sponsors or members of the CBC.

At first, Johnson denied she broke the anti-nepotism rules, but a day later admitted her wrongdoing. She claimed she didn't know she was breaking any rules.

Johnson is taking a necessary first step to redemption by paying back the money. Now, she has to invite the Dallas Morning News or any other agency to scrutinize her office and accounts to convince her constituents that there are no other financial skeletons rattling around in her closet.

Such an admission may start to repair the trust between the lawmaker and her voters, because as far as I can see, she doesn't have a leg to stand on in this mess.

The scholarship money was designed to help disadvantaged students, and while I don't know them personally, I doubt the grandchildren of a U.S. Congress member are crying broke. At any rate, I'm sure there are some really needy kids in her Dallas district who could use the money.

The CBC Foundation is now conducting an internal investigation to determine whether other lawmakers have been dipping into the scholarship money.

Don't be surprised if this so-called investigation gives the 42 members of the CBC a clean bill of financial health as far as the scholarship fund is involved.

With the ethical problems of its highest-profile members, Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters, now under Congressional investigation, the last thing the CBC will do is add to its own miseries.