Word: ney
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Last week produced the biggest development yet in the case: a plea agreement by public relations man Scanlon, who was once a press secretary for Texas Congressman Tom DeLay. In the agreement, Scanlon acknowledged that he and "Lobbyist A" (Abramoff) showered "Representative #1" (Ohio Congressman Bob Ney) and his staff with lavish trips, tickets to sporting events and concerts, sports-arena boxes for fund raisers, campaign contributions, golf outings and free meals at Abramoff's "upscale restaurant," Signatures. The plea agreement alleges that Ney, chairman of the House Administration Committee, provided "official acts and influence," including introducing legislation, and giving...
...plea agreement suggests that Ney is only one of numerous public officials the feds are looking at and that Scanlon, who has been cooperating with them since June, could be their star witness. Says Scanlon's attorney Stephen Braga: "The government's investigation is much broader--and Mr. Scanlon's cooperation in that investigation is much more extensive--than [the facts] recited in the plea-agreement papers." Adding to lawmakers' concerns is that federal authorities may be lowering the bar for corruption cases from earlier scandals in which, typically, individuals blatantly handed politicians expensive gifts and cash. At a time...
However jumpy people in Washington are getting about the Abramoff investigation, it has yet to make much of an impact with voters beyond the Beltway. When Ney appeared at the Chamber of Commerce's legislative luncheon in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, last week, he got only one question about it, and that was from a reporter. Some in his district say the allegations against him prove nothing more than what they always knew about politicians. "Why are they nitpicking with him?" asks Edith Gibson, 77, who says she appreciates the work Ney has done for veterans. "Is every other person lily...
...Ney isn't the only House member who might find some uncomfortable moments back home during this month's congressional recess. Some others whose alleged behavior has given constituents something to talk about...
...Abramoff and a partner were indicted for conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with their 2000 purchase of SunCruz Casinos. In the middle of contentious negotiations over the sale, Ney condemned the seller, Konstantinos "Gus" Boulis, on the floor of the House, implying he was skirting the law. Several months later, Ney praised Abramoff's partner in the purchase as someone who could transform SunCruz "from a questionable enterprise to an upstanding establishment." Several months after that, in March 2001, Abramoff, his partner and three other SunCruz associates each contributed $1,000 to Ney at a fundraiser they...