Abramoff scandal timeline Bob Ney

november 2005

ney subpoenaed in investigation in november 2005. michael scanlon pleaded guilty conspiring bribe member of congress, identified ney, , other public officials. in agreement, scanlon admitted bribing ney in return for, among other things, following (described in more detail below):

ney s placing statements in congressional record relating suncruz casinos scandal;
ney s using position attempt endorse , support client of abramoff s provider of wireless telephone infrastructure house of representatives;
ney s agreement introduce , seek passage of legislation lift existing federal ban against commercial gaming 2 different native american tribes in texas (clients of abramoff);
ney s agreement assist legislation financially benefit california tribe.


january 2006

on january 3, 2006, abramoff pleaded guilty 3 felony counts involving charges stemming principally lobbying activities in washington on behalf of native american tribes. 1 of cases of bribery described in plea agreement detail involves person identified representative #1 . ney s spokesman confirmed ney representative #1.

a press release department of justice describes particulars:

abramoff admitted 1 means of accomplishing results clients, he, scanlon, , others engaged in pattern of corruptly providing things of value public officials, including trips, campaign contributions, , meals , entertainment, intent influence acts public officials benefit abramoff , abramoff’s clients. example, abramoff , scanlon provided things of value public official (described representative #1) , members of staff, including, not limited to, lavish trip scotland play golf on world-famous courses, tickets sporting events , other entertainment, regular meals @ abramoff’s upscale restaurant, , campaign contributions representative, political action committee, campaign committee, , other political committees on behalf of representative. @ same time, , in exchange these things of value, scanlon , abramoff sought , received representative’s agreement perform directly , through others series of official acts, including not limited agreements support , pass legislation, , agreements place statements in congressional record.

ney said in statement @ time dealt jack abramoff, did not know, , had no way of knowing, self-serving , fraudulent nature of abramoff s activities . ney spokesman brian walsh said official actions ney had taken based on merits , facts of situation , not because of improper influence jack abramoff or else .

on january 15, 2006, ney resigned chairman of house administration committee. maintained had done nothing wrong, had been under increasing pressure stand down since ties abramoff increasing embarrassment in light of republican plans reforms of lobbying , campaign finance rules. house administration committee has jurisdiction on elections , lobbyists. house speaker dennis hastert reportedly emailed roll call article regarding ney s precarious hold on gavel several capitol beat reporters. ney s resignation officially temporary. however, of republican colleagues expected him indicted. under republican caucus rules, have permanently lost chairmanship if indicted.

abramoff s plea agreement details practice of hiring former congressional staffers. abramoff used these persons influence lobby former congressional employers, in violation of one-year federal ban on such lobbying. named in department of justice indictment 2 abramoff colleagues, staffer , staffer b , tony rudy , ney s former chief of staff, neil volz (who left ney s office work lobbyist barnes & thornburg) respectively.

may 2006

on may 8, 2006, volz pleaded guilty conspiring corrupt public officials , violating lobbying rules. bloomberg news described plea agreement:

in court documents filed part of volz s plea agreement, prosecutors said , others @ greenberg traurig offered trips, tickets sporting events , numerous meals @ abramoff s restaurants ney. in 2003, volz paid part of two-night trip sagamore resort in lake george, new york, ney , members of staff, prosecutors said.


ney, part, agreed abramoff clients acts such inserting language legislation lift gaming ban hurting 1 of tribes, prosecutors said. court documents describe conversations in volz told ney abramoff wanted him in meetings tribal client.

on may 18, 2006, house ethics committee announced investigation bribery allegations against ney. heaton, chief of staff, subpoenaed.

june 2006

the federal grand jury issued subpoena matthew d. parker, ney s campaign manager. on june 29, 2006, 3 of ney s staffers resigned: brian walsh, longtime ney spokesman; heaton, ney’s chief of staff; , chris otillio, senior legislative aide. in statement, ney said congressional staff turnover high, , 3 departing staff members had worked him longer many others stay in similar jobs.

july 2006

john bennett, staffer in ney s district office, received subpoena.

september 2006

on september 15, 2006, justice department filed ney s guilty pleas charge of conspiracy defraud united states , charge of falsifying financial disclosure forms. both charges related actions taken on behalf of abramoff s clients in exchange bribes, separate actions taken on behalf of foreign businessman in exchange on $50,000 in gambling sprees @ foreign private casinos. in 4 separate guilty pleas, jack abramoff, former delay deputy chief of staff tony rudy, former delay press secretary michael scanlon , former ney chief of staff neil volz said ney had used position grant favors abramoff lobbying team in exchange gifts, including free trip super bowl, northern marianas islands, scotland, use of luxury boxes @ sporting events, , concerts , meals. ney first member of congress admit criminal charges in abramoff investigation, has focused on actions of several current , former republican lawmakers had been close former lobbyist. ney announced entering inpatient treatment rehabilitation , entering guilty plea federal corruption charges related abramoff scandal. admitted making serious mistakes , stated that, after helping people entire political career, needed now.

october 2006

on october 13, ney officially pleaded guilty before u.s. district court judge ellen segal huvelle. issued statement saying ashamed had end career public servant in such fashion.

ney did not resign house, though under house rules not have been able vote or participate in committee work during chamber s lame duck session in december. claimed had outstanding work finish in congressional office. also, several officials said in severe financial straits , needed continue drawing congressional salary long possible. 4 highest-ranking members of republican house leadership—hastert, boehner, majority whip roy blunt , house republican conference chairwoman deborah pryce—issued joint statement demanding ney resign before lame duck session. if didn t so, said, make resolution expel him first order of business @ lame duck session.[1]

on november 3, 4 days before general election, ney submitted resignation hastert.

william heaton, chief of staff rep. bob ney pleaded guilty 1 count of conspiracy commit fraud. admitting conspiring ney, jack abramoff , others accept vacations, meals, tickets, , contributions ney s campaign in exchange ney benefitting abramoff s clients.(2006)