Rep. Bob Ney pleads guilty to bribery

[ProSense]

Rep. Bob Ney pleads guilty to bribery

9 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Congressman Bob Ney has pleaded guilty to bribery charges in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling scandal.

The Ohio Republican becomes the first member of Congress to plead guilty or be convicted in the scandal that has tainted the White House as well as Capitol Hill. He faces up to ten years in prison.

First U.S. lawmaker convicted in lobbying scandal

11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican congressman was convicted on Friday after pleading guilty to accepting meals, drinks, gambling chips and other items worth tens of thousands of dollars in the Jack Abramoff political corruption scandal.

Ohio Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record), the first U.S. lawmaker convicted in the case, stood before the judge during a court hearing and said, "I plead guilty your honor."

Ney, who abandoned his race for re-election in August as the U.S. Justice Department investigation intensified into his links to the convicted lobbyist Abramoff, will resign from Congress in the next few weeks, his lawyer told the judge.

Ney was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994,

The Abramoff scandal and the scandal involving lewd computer messages sent by disgraced former Rep. Mark Foley (news, bio, voting record) to young male congressional aides have hurt Republicans as they seek to keep control of the U.S. Congress in the November elections.

[zbdent]

1. Let's see if he gets a lighter sentence than Traficant ...

who was convicted on the words of a guy who was trying to lighten his own sentence ...

[NoAmericanTaliban]

2. WH response - Jack who?? We don't know Jack.

Just an example of another bad apple.
See how justice system is working.
That is old news.
Bob who? We don't know any Bobs.


-------------

Can you anticipate the upcoming awful sound. It will penetrate the ears of America with the sounds of justice. The distinct sound of
writs slapping.

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

3. Video Of Ney leaving court just shown on MSNBC

He looks...un-happy

Finally, some good news for the GOP.

[wordpix2]

38. when he empties his thieving pockets back into the US Treasury, I'll cheer

[Demeter]

4. So When Does He Become An EX-Senator?

Do we have to wait until he's dead? C'mon Frist, show some smarts, or manhood, or read the memo!

[MaineDem]

11. He's in the House

Or was. I read he was resigning today as well.

[Divine Discontent]

28. demeter

how I wish he was a senator, but we'll take a highly powerful congressman any day, right!? this is great news, and will add an overflowing amount of cream onto the TRUE appearance that repubicans currently in DC are either crooks, uncaring, or like foley and their leadership is just as guilty for covering up for them to keep power.



www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- antibush prodem stickers/shirts

[Heywood J]

5. Wow

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061013/ap_on_go_co/ney_corruption_7


Nothing like jerking everyone around with Congressional crap. Is he trying to keep his pension or standing with the delay in resigning?

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.

So he gets to make hundreds of thousands, if not more, by being bribed and only has to pay back a token amount, along with a sentence lighter than Trafficant or Cunningham? Sounds like a sweetheart deal.

[Dangerously Amused]

9. Let's hope that part of his sweetheart deal includes

...ratting out others of this corrupt regime, and we just don't know about it yet because it would spoil the plan.


Yeah, I really do not understand sentences where the defendant has to reimburse only a small amount of what was stolen. Is there any better way to send the message that "crime pays"?

[NoAmericanTaliban]

14. Wasn't the GOP the party that's tough on crime..

guess that doesn't apply to themselves or any other republican group such as business or mormons. What about all those people that hire illegals? Tough on crime my ass. They are only tough on non-republicans.

[anitar1]

23. I read that Foley keeps his 100,000 a year pension.Will

Ney keep his? So we continue to support these two men for their lifetime ?

[Yogi]

33. my understanding is if they......

resign they get to keep there pension. Dose anybody know any different?

[twaddler01]

34. As long as I rob the bank more than my sentence i'm ok

SWEET! :sarcasm:


edit: spelling...again

[dave123williams]

6. Protecting America's moral values, one dollar at a time.

[jarnocan]

7. but will they focus on the big picture? ELECTION FRAUD

like the Abramoff time line posted earlier, and how he fought against HOLT's bill? I doubt it.

[requiem99]

8. Maybe the time has finally come to uncover the 2004 election fraud

of which Ney was a part of. I haven't posted here since the 2004 election I've been so disgusted with this country. But hi again, anyway.

[AllyCat]

10. Welcome back Requiem

I post infrequently now as well, but read daily. Lets hope this is the start of investigations into this mess. It seems some of the media are picking up on the story (i.e. HBO).

[requiem99]

21. But surely people of the party of ethical responsibility don't watch HBO!

[robinlynne]

17. yes. and may his HAVA go to hell.

[jarnocan]

30. I feel your pain, but glad you're back too. nt

[Chipper Chat]

12. Fox News will be reluctant to report this tonight.

Whatcha bet this turns up:

Fox News:

BOB NEY
D-OHIO

[pdxmom]

13. If he is allowed to stay in Congress one minute longer, then we

have proof that the Repukes condone corruption. And if he casts one more vote in the House, then we know that the Repukes have been bought by special interests lock, stock and barrel and really don't care who knows about it.

[ShortnFiery]

15. If this Republican Congress is serious about cracking down on

corruption they will move to RESCIND both Duke Cunningham's and Bob Ney's PENSIONS!

We the People should NOT be paying these corrupt politicians what's equivalent to WELFARE in the form of Pension Payments that they have NOT earned.

The Democrats need to yell this from the highest rafters, "Hey Republican Congress, show THE PEOPLE that you actually care and pull these Criminal Representatives' (Cunningham and Ney) Pensions NOW!"

[civildisoBDence]

16. Bob Ney--The other dead white meat.

More to come...maybe even a big old pork barbecue!

Newsprism

[madrchsod]

18. "another one bites the dust"

couldn`t happen to a nicer guy....bob you are going to the-"fuck`m in the ass federal prison"

[ProSense]

19. GOP leaders' (what a lineup) joint statement on Ney

Joint Statement from Speaker Hastert, Majority Leader Boehner, Majority Whip Blunt, Conference Chairman Pryce on Bob Ney

31 minutes ago

To: National Desk

Contact: Ron Bonjean or Lisa C. Miller, 202-225-2800, both for the House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Conference Chairman Deborah Pryce (R-Ohio) today released the following joint statement after Bob Ney pled guilty to violating federal law:

"Bob Ney must be punished for the criminal actions he has acknowledged. He betrayed his oath of office and violated the trust of those he represented in the House. There is no place for him in this Congress. If he chooses not to resign his office, we will move to expel him immediately as our first order of business when Congress resumes its legislative work in November."

Video: OH-15: Golddigger (Pryce)

[whistle]

20. Just keep rolling those crooked republican politicians out of office

...and right into jail. Thanks, there really is a God!

[connecticut yankee]

22. Interesting

how this topic is completely ignored on the Repuke blogs.

Whaddya expect?

[Tom Joad]

24. This is just another Rove ploy. Just to divert attention from the Foley

scandal.
Wait, or is the Foley Scandal a ploy to divert attention from the Abramoff scandal?

Or are the Foley & Abramoff scandals both just ploys to divert attention away from Iraq?

Or is Iraq, foley, & abramoff all just ploys to divert attention from the pending attack on Iran?

Anyway, we know Rove is behind it all!

(Note: the above is satire. Just so you know.)

[OnyxCollie]

35. LOL! nt

[Auntie Bush]

25. So another ReTHUGlican bites the dust!

What else is new? :shrug:

[snowbear]

26. Was Ney up for re-election this year? If so.. who's running?

Sorry.. I'm not overly familiar with Ohio..

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

32. Every House critter is up for election every 2 years.

1/3 of the Senate every 2 years.

[The Wizard]

27. Last week

it was buggery. This week it's bribery. Oh those Republicans, looking to fuck the people by any means necessary. I wonder if Ney's new husband will want his salad tossed.

[Independent_Liberal]

29. I believe Hastert is next in line.

And then Pombo. And then Doolittle. And then Sweeney. And then Burns. And then Cornyn. And then... And then... YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! (quoting Howard Dean :) )

[No DUplicitous DUpe]

40. Funny! Hastert is in a tough spot. They look bad with him..

And if they dump him, they look worse.

[Auggie]

31. Hey, rejoice already! This is great news. Especially in Ohio.

[Towlie]

36. Expel an elected representative? Can they do that?

House Republican leaders vowed Friday to expel convicted Rep. Bob Ney "as our first order of business" after the elections unless he resigns.

Can they do that?

Can a duly elected representative of a Congressional district be expelled by the rest of Congress? Has it ever been done before? Is proof of a violation of law required? Is this done by all of Congress, all of the House, or just by the Congressman's own party? What is the procedure? What is the ratio of votes necessary to pass the expulsion? Could the Republican-dominated House expel all of the Democrats if they wished? If Democrats gain control, can they then expel all of the Republicans?

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

37. Doesn't the guy actually have to go to JAIL at some point?

[AZ1JoeT]

41. Yes, both chambers of Congress "police" their own members

While it has only happened a few times in US history, the House can expell its own members, as can the Senate. It takes a 2/3 majority. Michael Myers (not the killer, the Pen Dem) was expelled in 1980 during the Abscam probe. A few other HOR's were expelled back in 1861 for supporting "the rebellion."

Denny and the boys are just blowing hot air. OF COURSE they are going to say they will expell Ney. I wonder, though, if Ney purposefully delayed his resignation to give am embattled Speaker the opportunity to SAY he would expell him.

Dunno.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

39. I'm confused.. I thought he was already replaced by a woman named Padgett-

or was that just for the actual election, and he stayed in his seat?


http://projects.washingtonpost.com/elections/keyraces/10/

[PegDAC]

42. This does my Buckeye heart good.

[Imagevision]

43. when is Ney going to prison?