Ohio Republican Admits Taking Bribes

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-10-13-ney_x.htm

[Round and round we go. Ney is only the first in line to be indicted. I'll bet this reaches to both sides of the aisle.]


From staff and wire reports
WASHINGTON — After two years of denying that he did anything illegal before agreeing to a guilty plea last month in the congressional corruption scandal connected to former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, Rep. Bob Ney on Friday admitted before a federal judge that he had taken bribes and lied about it.

U.S. District Judge Ellen Huvelle said prosecutors had agreed to recommend a term of 27 months, and said federal guidelines suggest a fine of between $5,000 and $60,000.

It was his first public appearance since entering an alcohol treatment program last month.

[News release: get caught doing anything bad and blame it on alochol. If alochol is so bad why not ban it like marijuana? It obviously leads to far worse behavior than to harder drugs.]


Ney's lawyer, Mark Touhey, told the judge he would resign before sentencing on Jan. 19.

[...but AFTER the mid-term elections, just proving once again how corrupt they all are]

According to papers filed last month by the Justice Department, Ney accepted trips to Scotland, New Orleans and Lake George, N.Y., that were valued at more than $170,000.

He also admitted to conspiring with Volz to break the one-year lobbying ban on former staff members — Volz joined Abramoff's firm after leaving Ney's office — and said in papers that he accepted thousands of dollars in campaign contributions, free meals, and tickets to concerts and sporting events in exchange for favors for clients of Abramoff.

Ney also got thousands of dollars in gambling chips, which federal investigators estimate netted him about $50,000, from a foreign businessman who was seeking to gain an exemption to U.S. laws prohibiting him from selling U.S.-made aircraft and aircraft parts in a foreign country.

[So...take close to (or over) a million dollars in stuff and get fined $5000. Such a deal! where can I sign up for such benefits, then get to cool my heels in a country club 'jail' while writing my tell-all book which will net me more millions. What a scam!!!]

Ney admitted to concealing these gifts by filing false reports with U.S. Customs and false travel and financial disclosure reports with the U.S. House.

[and will IRS be close on his heels for not declaring income? Naaaa]

Ney admitted attempting to insert four provisions into a 2002 campaign finance reform bill to help a Texas Indian tribe represented by Abramoff re-open their casino, help a foreign beverage distiller client of Abramoff improperly label their product, and cause the General Services Administration to transfer property to a religious school founded by Abramoff — all in exchange for gifts to the congressman.

Ney also contacted officials in the executive branch on behalf of Abramoff's clients, helped another Abramoff client secure a wireless contract at the Capitol and inserted two statements into the Congressional Record to help Abramoff and Kidan purchase the SunCruz casino ship line, court documents indicate.

"The congressman was acting in his own best interests and not in the best interests of his constituents."

[What a Fuc*ing revolving door for millionaires to enrich themselves further at the cost of the little guy]

Despite his admission of criminal activity, Ney, 52, is entitled to collect a congressional pension.

[can you believe this s**t? just YOU try something like this]

Ney's court appearance came two weeks after it was revealed that Abramoff's lobbying team had 485 contacts in three years with White House aides. The tally by a House committee was based on records House investigators obtained from 13 of 24 Abramoff clients.

It also came a day after the Senate Finance Committee released a report indicating five non-profit groups, including one of President Bush's biggest supporters, may have broken tax laws and put their tax-exempt status at risk by helping Abramoff.

[But again, since they are junior's friends nothing will happen to them just you wait and see]