Tenure Bob Ney

1 tenure

1.1 freedom fries
1.2 abramoff scandal timeline
1.3 suncruz casinos scandal
1.4 indian gambling
1.5 license telecommunications firm
1.6 involvement in u.s. sanctions on arms sales iran
1.7 legal fees

tenure

ney s voting record considerably more moderate has become typical of republicans elected in 1994. did not earn rating in 90s american conservative union until 2004. known bucking party s leadership on issues important blue-collar district, such championing needs of beleaguered steel industry. in 1999 prominent part of stand steel campaign, united steel industry , steel unions in fight against low-priced imports. in 2000, 1 of handful of republicans backed effort block permanent normal trade status china. in 2001, ney 1 of 3 republicans vote against usa patriot act (the other 2 butch otter of idaho , ron paul of texas). in 2005 voted against president bush s central american free trade agreement (cafta) , against republican budget cuts medicaid , after-school programs.

freedom fries

menu congressional cafeteria featuring freedom fries.

ney gained notoriety when mandated, chairman of house administration committee, french fries renamed freedom fries on house of representatives food service menus, indicate displeasure france s lack of support 2003 invasion of iraq. ney led effort, along fellow republican u.s. congressman walter b. jones, change name of french fries , french toast freedom fries , freedom toast . committee had authority on house cafeterias. ney said @ press conference action today small, symbolic effort show strong displeasure of many on capitol hill actions of our so-called ally, france. in july 2006, after ney had left committee, names changed back; ney had no comment.

abramoff scandal timeline


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)

suncruz casinos scandal

ney implicated in separate abramoff suncruz casinos scandal. conduct alleged ney twice entered statements congressional record @ scanlon s request in exchange $10,000 contribution.

in march 2000, before deal abramoff , others purchase suncruz closed, ney entered following comments congressional record critical of management of suncruz: mr. speaker, how suncruz casinos , gus boulis conduct regard florida laws unnerving. florida authorities have repeatedly reprimanded suncruz casinos , owner gus boulis taking illegal bets, not paying customers , had take steps prevent suncruz conducting operations altogether. alleged statement intended pressure suncruz sell abramoff on terms favorable latter.

the second time in october 2000. alleged ney, other republicans in house, under pressure raise money republican national congressional committee (rncc) in october 2000, month prior november elections. in october 23 e-mail abramoff scanlon, abramoff asked 10k nrcc suncruz ney help? scanlon replied, yes, lot! have give them definite answer—and need week .

the $10,000 sent rncc within days, , ney got credit raising it. scanlon wrote draft statement ney praised adam kidan, main partner of abramoff in purchasing suncruz. ney inserted statement october 26 congressional record, praising new more responsible management, under kidan, of suncruz.

indian gambling

ney introduced legislation allow tiguas indians reopen casino after receiving $32,000 in donations pac , campaign tribe.

in march 2002, abramoff e-mailed marc schwartz, consultant tiguas, instructing him donate rep. ney s campaign. tribe donated $2,000 campaign , $30,000 ney s pac. scanlon e-mailed abramoff on march 20, 2002 tell him had signed rep. bob ney attach provision allowing tiguas have gaming rights helping americans vote act, ney had co-authored: met ney!!! re f ing gold!!!! s going tigua. (former ney chief of staff neil volz, abramoff employee, made appeal ney s staff while still subject one-year lobbying ban).

according testimony tigua representatives, abramoff set lengthy meeting between tribal representatives , ney in ney s office in august 2002, conference call, , ney assured them working insert language reopen casino unrelated election reform bill. ney s attorney reported found calendar reference indicating ney had had meeting taqua .

ultimately, tiguas casino language did not become law. abramoff, scanlon, , ney had promised tribe provision win senate support senator christopher dodd. dodd said never supported amendment. tiguas claimed defrauded—by abramoff, scanlon, , ney.

in november 2004, ney told senate investigators not @ familiar tigua , not recall meeting members of tribe. brian walsh, spokesman ney, said in june 2006 congressman s meeting committee voluntary meeting—it not conducted under oath .

license telecommunications firm

ney, chair of house administration committee, approved 2002 license israeli telecommunications company install equipment improve cell phone reception in capitol , adjacent house office buildings, equipment generate significant revenue firm. company, foxcom wireless, israeli start-up telecommunications firm, (which has since moved headquarters jerusalem vienna, va., , been renamed mobileaccess networks) later paid abramoff $280,000 lobbying. donated $50,000 abramoff s capital athletic foundation, non-profit organization abramoff used redistribute money personal , political gain.

a spokesman ney claimed wireless providers had voted foxcom in secret ballots, spokesmen each of 6 wireless companies told washington post had remained neutral in selection process. ney refused make public copy of documents relating agreement.

involvement in u.s. sanctions on arms sales iran

in late 1970s, ney went iran teach english. since then, has maintained active interest in iranian affairs , member of congress fluent in persian.

in january 2006, newsweek reported ney s lawyer confirmed federal prosecutors have subpoenaed records on expenses paid february 2003 trip london ney , top aide took. trip paid nigel winfield, thrice-convicted felon ran company in cyprus called fn aviation. winfield seeking sell u.s.-made airplane spare parts iranian government—a deal have needed special permits because of u.s. sanctions against tehran , , ney lobbied secretary of state colin powell relax u.s. sanctions on iran.

legal fees

a filing federal election commission in october said ney had paid law firm vinson & elkins $136,000 july through september, campaign funds. january 2006, total legal expenses paid ney s political campaign committee had risen $232,381. january march 2006 reporting period, ney paid additional $96,000 in legal fees campaign funds law firm; total campaign spending period $250,000. legal fees related ongoing federal investigation (see below.)

brian walsh, spokesman ney, said in april 2006: frankly, s unfortunate commentary on justice system has spend lot of money clear name , set record straight in in case false allegations. said congressman doing possible , moving possible put these allegations rest , clear name.

in federal elections commission filing showing expenses through end of june 2006, ney reported had not paid legal fees since january 5 campaign funds. mark tuohey, lead lawyer @ vinson & elkins, said ney needs money campaign , s priority right now. intends pay. ll pay fees, have no doubt that.

in november 2005, reported ney had set legal defense fund himself in connection abramoff case. documents filed in house in january 2006 showed ethics committee had approved organization papers fund. fund raised $40,000 between january , march 2006, , nothing between april , june 2006. fund did not spend money ney s legal expenses. ney s withdrawal race (see below) meant use remaining campaign funds (almost half million dollars) legal defense.