WASHINGTON -- U. S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Lake Stevens, sacked three young legislative aides Thursday, barely an hour after learning of the trio's stream of indiscreet tweets filled with references to hangovers, idling on the job and, not least, their "idiot boss."

Larsen's swift action followed a report by NW Daily Marker chronicling the three junior staffers' colorful Twitter feeds since August. They were identified as legislative assistants Seth Burroughs and Elizabeth Robblee and legislative correspondent Ben Byers. Their tweets boasted of watching Nirvana videos on taxpayers' dime, sipping "Jack" behind desks and leveling insults at Larsen.

The tweets apparently went unnoticed by anyone else in Larsen's office in the Cannon Building.

Bryan Thomas, Larsen's communications director, issued this statement:

“Congressman Larsen and his staff became aware of the issue concerning the three staff members at noon EST. We became aware of the issue through a tweet referencing an article about the incident. Congressman Larsen immediately decided to fire the three staff members involved in the incident. The staff members were dismissed at 1:10 p.m. EST."

“Congressman Larsen is disappointed by their actions and takes this very seriously. He has made it clear that he will not tolerate this kind of behavior.”