Abramoff plea deal would put heat on Ney

[Algorem]

http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news/1135247638222690.xml?nnusa&coll=2

...Abramoff might finally explain his motive in providing luxury travel to Scotland, offers of a Super Bowl trip and help in getting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash for Ney and other congressmen. If federal prosecutors decided that amounted to bribery in exchange for legis- lative favors, it could crack open one of the biggest congressional scandals in modern history and potenti ally end the careers of Ney and others who become ensnared, ethics watchdogs say...

Abramoff's former business partner, Michael Scanlon, has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Ney and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. His plea agreement detailed trips, tickets to concerts and sporting events and campaign contributions that were allegedly provided to Ney and his staff "in exchange for a series of official acts and influence."...

Ohio Republicans will not publicly discuss any plans they might be making in the event of a Ney indictment, but they have privately approached local Republicans about seeking Ney's job if he leaves...

Democrats in Ohio don't expect Ney to step down if he's indicted. Ney wouldn't be the only jobless member of his family if he quit, because his wife and son work for his re-election campaign.



It's business as usual for Ney
Ohio congressman works to keep probe from becoming distraction

http://www.cleveland.com/search/index.ssf?/base/ispol/113430424527650.xml?ispol&coll=2

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Washington- Ohio Congressman Bob Ney is either a poster boy for Capitol Hill corruption or a hapless legislator who regrets innocently helping former chums who now face criminal charges.

Either way, the ruddy-faced Republican from near the West Virginia border is fed up with his central role in an investigation of whether dis graced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and PR man Michael Scan lon bribed him and other con gressmen.

Federal investigators have subpoenaed Ney. He contends he did nothing wrong. He prefers to concentrate on more-pleasant official duties, like delivering speeches, visiting schools in his southeast Ohio district, chairing committee hearings and entering remarks in the Congressional Record to honor constituents' birthdays and anniversaries.

On Thursday morning, Ney sipped coffee and listened attentively as Democrats on a housing subcommittee he chairs blasted Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson for failing to appear before them to discuss Hurricane Katrina relief. Ney was doing his job as a congressman, as if the controversy that surrounds him didn't exist...

[radfringe]

1. so when does NEY roll over?

Abramoff, Scanlon have copped a deal -- NEY Next? or will Ney continue to say Nay?

[Botany]

2. Bob "HAVA" Nye

This boy is @ the center of stolen elections and covering up the 04 Ohio vote.
Please I hope Abramoff sings load and clear.

Very soon people, the who house of cards is going to come down.

[leftyladyfrommo]

3. Yea. This Whole Deal is Getting Interesting.

Don't you just wonder how many guys in Congress are getting worried?

[Botany]

5. not only congress but

Bush, Rove, and Ralph Reed.

Real nice trails go right to them.

Oh, January will be sooooo much fun.

Merry Fitzmas.

[Demeter]

6. I Wonder Why We Aren't Seeing More Panic

Perhaps it's there, but not public, yet. I do hope so. Can't think of a better replacement for coal in the stocking, and switches in the shoes.

[yellowcanine]

4. And a Ney plea deal will put the heat on DeLay. Who do you think asked

Ney to do the casino dirty work to keep his own fingerprints off of the deal? I am betting it was the bugman himself. Once Ney is in the dock he will have no incentive to protect the bugman and every incentive to save his own ass (literally from a jailhouse ass fucking).