bucyrustelegraphforum.com - Fellow Republican: Ney likely to be indicted

Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, is likely to be indicted in an ongoing public corruption scandal, according to a fellow Republican congressman, Jim McCrery of Louisiana.
Ney has been linked by prosecutors to Jack Abramoff, a former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to charges this week that include mail fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials. He also is linked to Abramoff's associate, Michael Scanlon, who pleaded guilty in November to conspiring to bribe a member of Congress and other public officials.

"He'll probably be indicted," McCrery speculated Friday.

Ney's spokesman Brian Walsh said Ney maintains that he has done "absolutely nothing wrong" and that prosecutors have not told him that he is a target of the investigation.

"The congressman from Louisiana is certainly welcome to voice his opinion," Walsh said. "I would point out, however, that he has no firsthand knowledge of the issues involved here, and I would further note that the constituents in Congressman Ney's district recognize ... that one is innocent until proven guilty."

No legal action has been taken against Ney, who chairs the House Administration Committee. However, Abramoff's and Scanlon's plea agreements accuse Ney, identified as ''Representative 1'' in court documents, of accepting travel, campaign contributions and sporting event tickets in exchange for official acts.

The Justice Department also subpoenaed Ney in connection with the Abramoff probe.