Abramoff plea deal ties Ney (R-Ohio) to corruption

[UpInArms]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/news-story.php?story=157720

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Ney of Heath received a "stream of things of value" from a Washington lobbyist, according to a court document released this morning by the Department of Justice.

Lobbyist Jack Abramoff attended a U.S. District Court hearing here that began shortly after noon where he pleaded guilty to several charges, including "bribery and honest services fraud involving public officials," according to a criminal information document filed against Abramoff.

The fraud charge includes an allegation that Abramoff deprived Ney's Ohio constituents of the "honest services" of their congressman.

<snip>

White House spokesman Scott McClellan could not say today whether Abramoff ever met President Bush. But when asked at the White House, McClellan said that "what he is reportedly acknowledged doing is unacceptable and outrageous."

...more...

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Abramoff.....Meet Bus

McClellan said that "what he is reportedly acknowledged doing is unacceptable and outrageous."

That didn't take long, did it? Makes me wonder if Abramoff is just going to suck it up and not sing.

[woodsprite]

13. Suck it up and not sing? Does that mean he'd get the 30 yrs? n/t

[karynnj]

2. I wonder what Ney has on the Ohio election corruption

Not that he could trade that with the justice department.

[danielmillstone]

3. Right-wingspin on Bribe/corruption issues

You may want to review the right-wing spin:

<http://www.noagenda.org/2005/12/rangel_linked_to_abramoff.php>

[cmd]

4. And from the Plain Dealer:

Sabrina Eaton was on C-span over the weekend. She has been on the Ney story for months. Ney won't talk to her and now it looks like Neil Volz won't talk to her either. Go, Sabrina!

12:03 p.m.
http://www.cleveland.com/newslogs/plaindealer/index.ssf...
Sabrina Eaton
Plain Dealer Bureau

Washington -- Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff is scheduled to plead guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion charges in federal court this afternoon, in a far-ranging web of alleged deceit that could entangle Ohio Republican congressman Bob Ney and one of his former staffers.

The charges that Abramoff is expected to admit include plying a congressman identified as "Representative 1" with favors including a lavish golf trip to Scotland, campaign contributions, sports tickets, and regular meals at an upscale restaurant owned by Abramoff, according to documents prepared by the Justice Department.
(snip)
It also says a former Ney staffer, identified as "Staffer B," who later went to work for Abramoff, violated a one-year ban on lobbying his former employer by seeking Ney's aid for Abramoff's clients.

Neil Volz, a lobbyist who represented the Abramoff clients cited in the charges and who previously worked for Ney, did not return telephone calls and emails to his office this morning. Ney's congressional office and attorney also had not responded to requests for comment.

[zann725]

11. If Abramoff is guilty..linked to Ney...who "laundered money" for '04

Election Campaigns, then could Ney AND/OR Abramoff be the proverbial "smoking guns"...missing pieces to the Election Fraud puzzle? Ney alone "muddies" the waters of the Ohio '04 Election results...in terms of his money laundering of WC Funds, and contributions to Repug campaigns. So if Abramoff and Ney now are closely linked (via "former Ney staffer"), then the "ties" that bind are quite close...particularly if Ney is closely involved in Ohio '04 Campaign results...Prez, Congressional, Judicial. And since OHIO determined the Presidency, allegedly...

[katsy]

5. Let me get this straight, and...

please correct me if I'm wrong: scotty is saying that abramoff knowingly pleaded guilty to crimes he didn't commit. Is that what scotty is saying?

he he

ha ha

BWA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[UpInArms]

6. ding! ding! ding!

There you have it, katsy! To these criminals at 1600 Penn, a "guilty" plea still can be characterized as "alleged".

[katsy]

7. Ahhhh...

a slippery ethics scale. Got it.

So will abramoff be charged to pleading guilty while innocent?

:crazy:

[UpInArms]

8. That might be the way to go - seeing as Martha Stewart was

found guilty of pleading innocent.

Up is down
Black is white
War is Peace

[rainbow4321]

9. Um, somone's ass may be busted about the "never meeting"

Cuz according to this, chimp and Abramoff sure as hell were at a meeting together...one arranged for $25,000.

http://www.texasobserver.org/showArticle_new.asp?ArticleID=13


According to a source close to the tribal majority, Chairman Poncho recently “revisited that issue” of his visit to the White House. He had previously denied it because he thought he was responding to press inquiries that implied he had a one-on-one meeting with Bush. He now recalls that he in fact did go to the White House on May 9, 2001. Tribal attorney Kathryn Fowler Van Hoof went with him, although she did not get into the meeting with the President. That meeting lasted for about 15 minutes and was not a one-on-one meeting. At the meeting, Bush made some general comments about Indian policy but did not discuss Indian gaming. Abramoff was at the meeting—for which he charged the Coushatta Tribe $25,000. The change in Poncho’s position is odd in light of the fact that he and his spokespersons have maintained for more than a year that he did not meet with President Bush in May 2001.

<snip>

The White House press office has not responded to our questions about other visits Jack Abramoff might have made to the White House or about Norquist using the official residence of the President to raise funds for Americans for Tax Reform. None of the political contributions Abramoff insisted the tribes make as yet have been returned.

[llmart]

10. Yeah, right.....

just like he never met Kenny Boy Lay.

Bush is the biggest liar this country has ever seen in the White House!

[doc03]

12. The Democrat talking head Ellen Ratner, shes on Faux at times

for some reason thinks the world of Bob Ney. She calls a local talk show here in Ney's district every morning and just can't believe he would be involved in anything like this.