Ney Pleads Guilty, Plans To Resign

(CBS/AP)  Rep. Bob Ney pleaded guilty Friday in the influence-peddling investigation of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, the first lawmaker to confess to crimes in an election-year scandal that has stained the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush administration.

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, but said in a statement that he will step down "in the next few weeks." Republican and Democratic leaders quickly vowed to expel him if he doesn't. The White House also called for Ney's resignation.

Beleaguered Republican 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 session after the Nov. 7 elections.

The scandal is likely to reinforce Democrats' contention in the campaign leading up to the elections that the ruling Republicans are corrupt and do not deserve to retain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate. There also could be difficulties for Republican candidates in Ney's home state of Ohio.

"I never intended my career in public service to end this way, and I am ashamed it did," Ney said in a written statement issued moments later.

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.

As to why he's not resigning now, 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. The House Republican leader, Dennis Hastert, and other Republican leaders said he would be gone far more quickly than that.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader, called Ney's guilty plea "further proof that the Republican culture of corruption has pervaded Congress."

Ney is the latest in a string of once-influential men convicted in a scandal that so far has caught several lobbyists and two members of the Bush administration.

Abramoff, the Republican super-lobbyist, admitted guilt in January after secretly cooperating with prosecutors for weeks.

Two former aides to Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader, have also pleaded guilty, as has Ney's former chief of staff.

Additionally, Roger Stillwell, a former Interior Department official, pleaded guilty in August to a misdemeanor charge for not reporting tickets he received from Abramoff.

And former White House official David Safavian, who had been the Bush administration's top procurement official, was convicted of covering up his dealings with Abramoff. He is scheduled for sentencing on Oct. 27.

Ney confessed his wrongdoing in a federal courthouse a few blocks from the Capitol building, where until recently he wielded a committee chairman's gavel.

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[the74blaster]

Well stated! I have nothing but respect for those who have served our country without asking why.

[bluestardad]

put him in jail take away his retirement

[bluestardad]

If you have never registered for the draft nor served in the military your credibility is suspect. Those who support this administration and its war policies the loudest have done neither. For those of us that have served, lost family members making our country great, and who%u2019s children have served in these bungled military campaigns deserve more than party line spin from people who don%u2019t even have the courage to step up to the plate when their country calls.

[exusmcsgt]

the74blaster-

A simple answer to your question-as any good defense attorney knows, if your guy is guilty as sin you have to put everyone else on trial.....

[the74blaster]

Excuse me but there%u2019s an obvious pattern that needs mentioning. The GOP faithful are very good at following the party lead by bringing up democratic scandals that occurred up to 37 years ago. However, is there anything we as voter can do about these scandals? The answer is nothing with the exception of Kennedy who keeps getting reelected.

However, why is it that the GOP keeps sweeping their glowing record of accomplishments over the last 6 years under the rug and chooses to bring up pre historic scandals that have no meaning in this election? I have asked this question before and it has gone unanswered by every one of my conservative friends and acquaintances.

Is it because the GOP has nothing positive to show for the last 6 years and cannot afford to talk about the failures associated with foreign policy, a sky rocketing federal debt, the Iraq war based on false pretenses and the federal response to the natural disaster caused by hurricane Katrina?

As an independent I have to ask those questions because frankly I do not believe the lack of performance by the GOP majority deserves another chance.

[drgoodwin12]

This is absurd,"Despite his admission of criminal activity, Ney, 52, is entitled to collect a congressional pension." in addition why is it that all politicians get light sentences to white collar jails?If an average citizen had done the same they would be serving a tougher sentence in a regular prison.That is where Ney and any other congressman,president or V.P. should receive and I am being kind due to the fact that they were elected to abide by the laws of our country.Actually life imprisonment in a not so cozy prison,no library,no athletic activities just a bed and three meals a day is all any prisoner deserves.

[drgoodwin12]

To CINDALU1 you claim that democrats are liberal and the republican party is consevative.First some facts,the log cabin lincolns would not be considered conservative in your world as they are homosexual republicans,fact two the consevative party is supposed to embrace family values such as honesty and god.Well take a look at all the recent news and the vast majority of those who have been caught are republican.They all have tried to deny the allegations only to later plead guilty.That is not honesty.Finally consevatives beleive in fiscal soundness,take a look at the nation's debt which did have a surplus prior to Iraq.And there are enough lies spilled out from three stooges in regards to Iraq.Now I a independent/democrat beleive in fiscal soundness,honesty,the death penalty and a great many other things that do not fit the word liberal.Alot of us ordinary citizens who vote democrat beleive the same way.This is a off base charge you are giving and has nothing to do with the story.However to my fellow democrats I want to give you a warning if the democratic party does indeed take control of both houses they better follow through on their campaign promises or in 2008 they will be fed to the wolves.

[exusmcsgt]

Ney admits his guilt yet refuses to resign. What more need be said?

[jah1492]

It is amazing how short memories the Democrats have!! Remember Wayne L. Hays (D) representative for the same district! Remember Dan Rutkowski(D - representative from Chicago)? Or that 4 of the 5 senators involved in the Keating Five were Democrats? Let us get real! Neither the Republicans or the Democrats have the corner on corruption! Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. Can you honestly name ANY Politican is a STATESMAN? The U.S. is going to hell in a handbasket. But this is nothing new. The common citizen has been saying this since the country was founded.

[alphaa10-2009]

newster1 said-- "a8m3h; there was an attempt to eliminate Presidential term limits, there was actually a BILL with a number making it's way around about 2 years ago to do just that- to allow the BUSH regime to remain in power!
This guy and his regime has ZERO respect for the Constitution..."
----

Here is another startling character revelation about Bush, confirmed by witnesses, but which was ignored by most of the MSM--

In November, 2005, in Washington, DC, Bush, facing an assembly of party members critical of his NSA spying program, bristled like a teenager caught drinking after curfew-- "Stop throwing the Constitution in my face! It just a GD)((#@*! piece of paper!"

------

Is this figure, who claims to be president of the United States, the same who pledged an oath to "protect, preserve and defend" the document he calls a "GD)((#@*! piece of paper"?

Any administration which lies to its people deserves what it gets-- the basic element of any political/social contract is trust in the honesty of leadership.

In contrast to those of his party who at least confessed their own lies, we have a pressing crisis for regime change with a lawless opportunist named Bush, who never admits a mistake or confesses a lie. Bush makes a mockery of the rule of law and American values, deceiving America about Iraq and a host of other issues in order to continue abusing the public trust.