Cleveland.com: Lobbyist plea deal would put heat on Ney

Thursday, December 22, 2005
Sabrina Eaton
Plain Dealer Bureau
Washington - If disgraced super-lobbyist Jack Abramoff, facing trial in Florida in three weeks, takes a plea deal, things could get mighty uncomfortable for Ohio's Bob Ney.

Abramoff might finally explain his motive in providing luxury travel to Scotland, offers of a Super Bowl trip and help in getting tens of thousands of dollars in campaign cash for Ney and other congressmen. If federal prosecut- ors decided that amounted to bribery in exchange for legis lative favors, it could crack open one of the biggest congressional scandals in modern history and potenti ally end the careers of Ney and others who become ensnared, ethics watchdogs say.

"This certainly has the potential to dwarf other congressional scandals that have occurred in recent years," said Fred Wertheimer, president of the Democracy 21 watchdog group who has monitored congressional ethics since 1971.

Numerous publications reported Wednesday that Abramoff is negotiating a plea agreement with prosecutors before his fraud trial begins in Florida on Jan. 9.

The Justice Department declined comment on Abramoff's discussions with prosecutors. Abramoff's attorney, Abbe Lowell, did not respond to The Plain Dealer's requests for comment.

Ney, a Republican congressman from Heath in Licking County, and House GOP leader Tom DeLay of Texas are among legislators who helped Abramoff and his clients while accepting lavish perks from the lobbyist, including a golf trip to Scotland.

Ney entered statements in the congressional record to help Abramoff buy a line of Florida casino boats and agreed to aid Indian tribes that Abramoff represented.

Abramoff's former business partner, Michael Scanlon, has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe Ney and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. His plea agreement detailed trips, tickets to concerts and sporting events and campaign contributions that were allegedly provided to Ney and his staff "in exchange for a series of official acts and influence."

Ney's office denies that improprieties occurred and said much of what Scanlon described never took place. The congressman has been subpoenaed by federal investigators and started a legal defense fund. Ney spokesman Brian Walsh would not discuss how Abramoff's plea agreement might affect Ney.

"We do not engage in hypotheticals by the Washington media," Walsh said.

Testimony from Abramoff and any transactional records he provides could be central to any case the federal government might build against Ney, said Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who heads Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Sloan, who has worked as an attorney for several Capitol Hill Democrats, says it's likely Ney will face bribery charges.

Ohio Republicans will not publicly discuss any plans they might be making in the event of a Ney indictment, but they have privately approached local Republicans about seeking Ney's job if he leaves.

If they decide Ney's troubles endanger their party's hold on his congressional seat, Republicans could encourage a primary challenge to Ney with strong financial backing, said American University political scientist Richard Semiatin.

"It's all speculation, at this point," said Ohio Republican Party spokesman John McClelland. "We would cross that bridge if and when we get to it."

Democrats in Ohio don't expect Ney to step down if he's indicted. Ney wouldn't be the only jobless member of his family if he quit, because his wife and son work for his re-election campaign.

"Bob Ney has become the poster boy for corruption in Ohio and Washington," said Ohio Democratic Party communications director Brian Rothenberg. "He seems pretty stubborn and defiant about all of this."