Republican Rep. Bob Ney of Ohio pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges in the congressional investigation into corruption and bribery involving disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, according to the Justice Department.
Ney pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements in a deal in which he will cooperate with the Justic Department’s influence peddling investigation.
The Justice Department and Ney’s lawyers agreed on a sentencing recommendation of 27 months in prison, provided Ney continues to cooperate, but the final sentence will be determined by a federal judge.
In May, Ney’s former chief of staff, Neil Volz, also entered into a deal in which he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.
In court papers, prosecutors alleged Ney “agreed to take favorable official action and render other assistance on behalf of clients” of Abramoff, who hired Volz as a lobbyist after he left Ney’s staff.”
All of the “honorable men” who share Ney’s baggage — from ideology to ethics — will now declare their surprise and compassion.
Make him count the ballots in the next Ohio election.
We need to elect normal, everyday people to Congress and national office instead of these career politicians. If makes me sick to think at how much “legal” bribery that goes on in our government. How bad was this case that it actually crossed over in to the “illegal” bribery?
Sickening.
Electing these normal people won’t change anything. Alot of these people started out ‘normal’. Jack Abramoff was a very nice and honorable guy in the 80s, quitting Hollywood because their movies went against his Jewish beliefs.
One thing that might help is opening things up like Coburn and Obama just did so taht every contract can be seen online. Another thing that would help is just shrinking the government’s power. If a few hundred people can just deicde that they’re going to take over a company or put it out of business, or give billions to someone else, then of course people are going to get invovled.
Suddenly, out of the blue, Ney is claiming to be an alcoholic who needs compassion and rehabilitation, not a criminal who needs a prison sentence. Anyone buying it?
AB CD, it is very doubtful that Abramoff was ever a nice person. Even the private Jewish school he set up was used for money laundering. You must be very naive.
My family and I have known Bob Ney since long before he became a Congressman. He really was just a good ordinary guy, who had to be talked into running for his seat. He and his family were solid middle, middle class people, well known and well liked.
When he decided to run, all of the Steel and Coal unions came out against him because he was a Republican, but the rank and file liked him, because a lot of them knew him and trusted him. My family in Ohio as well as my family in Arizona gave the max allowed to him and he won by a very slim margin. In 2 more elections he became unbeatable, because he delivered for his district, even the local unions backed him. He was an excellant Congressman.
My Uncle who lives in the town Ney is from and knows him well, said that it was around the 4th term that people noticed the drinking.
It’s a shame when a good man/woman goes bad. But he made his choices so now he gets to live with the results. We had hoped that it would all become clear that he did nothing wrong……a lot of just ordinary folks had their hopes dashed……nothing here to gloat about.
I’m totally disgusted and sick of the politics going on in Washington. It appears to me that the priorities of both parties are simply to win and gain power. This has resulted in arrogance and letting the country fall apart with no vision for the future and no desire to deal with the real problems. By real problems; I mean securing the borders, national health care, a new tax system that’s fair, protecting the retirements promised by corporations, stem the tide of good paying jobs leaving this country, creating a education system where future generations have an opportunity to better themselves and keeping this country strong with a good standard of living, and releasing the stranglehold that the lobbyists and corporations have on the country.
Am I the only one who sees horns on the guy from Time’s “M”?!
#5, joshua,
Thank you for the personal insight. I too believe that people are born good. Although most of us can resist temptation for much offered us, none of us can resist temptation for everything.
Nor do I think that politics make everyone bad. While some might claim that Ted Kennedy is a bad person, he does not personally benefit from his position and has given his life to advancing his beliefs. The same may be said for many Republicans such as Dennis Haskart. Whether or not you like their politics, they are good men.
It is those who advance their own pockets I despise.
the idea he is the only “MAN” buying congress is stupid…. congress is up for sell to the highest bidders and more times than not its foreign money thats doing the buying.. the system is rotten to the core
#9, are you venting or do you have evidence that the other 533 members of Congress are taking bribes? I tell you, I do not like my Congressman. Yet I do not believe he is enriching himself, family, or friends. I truly have to say both Senators are men of the highest standard.
I’ll bet you don’t vote.
Both of your examples are weak. You know about Kennedy’s opposition to windmills, and that’s just one example. That family has plenty of businesses, and they benefit all the time. Hastert’s done some things too, though I don’t remember if it was more Illinois politics than personal benefit.
Ney is just a little part of the crime. Abromoff helped the slave island of Saipan keep its slave shops and forced prostitution. Anybody who thinks the Republicans oppose slavery should see the slaves in Saipan that is supported by the U.S. TAXPAYER!!!!
Both of your examples are weak. You know about Kennedy’s opposition to windmills, and that’s just one example. That family has plenty of businesses, and they benefit all the time. Hastert’s done some things too, though I don’t remember if it was more Illinois politics than personal benefit.
Comment by AB CD — 9/17/2006 @ 7:30 am
So Kennedy opposes windmills. Did that enrich him or his family? What if he took a stand on abortion you disagreed with, would that too make him corrupt?
You are blowing hot air simply because you don’t have an argument and want to believe that all politicians are corrupt. It is so much easier to throw accusations then it is to back them up. Otherwise post a reputable link where either Kennedy or Haskert have taken bribes in return for favors.
Sorry, I thought you knew the story about Kennedy and windmills. I think it was even posted here. He supports wind farms, but is right now opposing one proposed near his house.