Ney to Close St. C Office by December (then resign)

[cmd]

U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is making plans to close his main district congressional office in St. Clairsville in early December.

He says he will then resign the office he has held since 1995 — a move that could necessitate a late-year special congressional election if current Gov. Bob Taft dictates. Such an election could cost $500,000.

“Having now appeared in court, I need to close up my congressional office,” Ney said in a statement released after he pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges Friday in Washington. “I want to make sure that my staff members are OK and that any open constituent matters and obligations are taken care of.

“Once I have done these things, I will be resigning from Congress. This will be done in the next few weeks,” Ney added.

In Washington, Ney Chief of Staff David Popp said the St. Clairsville office — as well as the Washington office — would close in about seven weeks, sometime around Friday, Dec. 1. As a federal lawmaker, Ney is paid $165,200 annually. This amounts to $452.60 per day, or about $22,000 in seven weeks.

http://www.news-register.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=11566

Isn't that just ducky! He plans to collect his full salary before resigning. As I understand it, congressional pay checks are cut on the first of the month. He'll collect his November and December checks, then quit.

[shance]

1. Is there not some law that makes a criminal resign EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY??

This is outrageous.

GET THE MONSTERS OUT OF OUR CAPITOL!!!

[Brundle_Fly]

2. Certainly goes to there statements about how

Foley was out so fast. Hypocrisy, naughty emails, bad, ripping off pretty much everyone, severance.

[EST]

5. There is a rule that, on indictment or censure, he has to

resign any chairs he has, although he can stay on the committees. At least I think this includes censure.
But he does not have to resign his job and the process of legally removing him would take so long that his term will be up before that could happen.

I suppose john law could conceivably demand that he begin serving his sentence immediately but he still would not have to give up his rep position unless the house leadership decided to expel him.

[Maine-ah]

7. all the while the fucker gets his pay check, and bennie's.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. Being indicted and pleading guilty are two different things

Once you've plead guilty to a felony, you are now a felon. I would assume there are rules barring a convicted felon from serving in public office? Heck in Florida they're not even allowed to vote. Plus, there are still laws prohibiting consorting with known felons, which would put other members of Congress in jeopardy.

[kestrel91316]

15. You're forgetting. Rules are for the Little People.

[EST]

3. On the one hand, I am outraged that his disrespect for his

office and the American public should run so deep, especially since the first thing his buddies claim they are going to do is kick him out.

On the other, however, the idea of this stinking, rotting dead chicken hanging around the necks of the pervert party for the next dozen weeks or so really tickles me.

[robinlynne]

4. As I understand it, he will keep on collecting afterwards as well, a full

pension.

[Eugene]

6. Let him make do with his pension.

I doubt that Bob Ney will still be there December 1st.
Both Democrats and Republicans say they will expel him.
His fellow Repubs promise to do it as the first order
of business in November.

Ney gets to keep his pension. That should be enough.

[babylonsister]

11. I think anyone who pleads guilty to a felony should NOT

be able to keep their pension. Why are we enabling him?

[Eugene]

14. Until the law is changed, it takes a "high crime" like treason

for a Congressional pension to be taken away.

The Congressional Pension Accountability Act authored by John Kerry
proposed to add bribery and perjury to the list of offenses,
but that bill will expire with the 109th Congress.

[tanyev]

8. It takes time to destroy so many incriminating records.

[Demeter]

10. Ney is financially strapped and needs his $165,200 annual paycheck and ben

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2563510


Rep. Ney Pleads Guilty; GOP Vows Ouster
Ohio Rep. Bob Ney Pleads Guilty to Bribery Charges; GOP Vows Ouster if He Doesn't Resign

By PETE YOST

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON ...Standing before Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, Ney pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements. He acknowledged taking money, gifts and favors in return for official actions on behalf of Abramoff and his clients.


Ney did not immediately resign from Congress, and within minutes, Republican and Democratic leaders vowed to expel him unless he steps down. The White House also called for Ney's resignation.
Beleaguered GOP leaders, struggling to overcome fallout from a separate scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley and teenage male pages, said they would make Ney's ouster the "first order of business" in a postelection session.


The 52-year-old lawmaker faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. 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.


Ney did not resign his seat. Several officials have said the congressman is financially strapped and needs his $165,200 annual paycheck and benefits as long as he can continue to receive them.
Ney's lawyer, Mark Touhey, told the judge he would resign before sentencing on Jan. 19. House Speaker Dennis Hastert and other Republican leaders said he would be gone far more quickly than that.

[Toots]

12. He will continue to receive a government check for the rest of his life

So will "Duke" Cunningham and Delay and every single one of those felons unless something is done about it..

[The Count]

13. Unfinished business election night, Ney? Some last computer hacking?

He would be the perfect patsy too - cuz what can he lose?
Get the criminal out of there NOW!!!!!