Ney deal raises pressure on Capitol Hill

[maddezmom]

WASHINGTON - Rep. Bob Ney (news, bio, voting record)'s agreement to plead guilty to federal corruption charges was not only the biggest win yet for the Justice Department in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal, it was also a loud reminder that the case is not going away.

~snip~

"I would be surprised if a single congressman was the only feather in the government's cap," said David H. Angeli, an Oregon defense attorney and vice chairman of the white collar unit for the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. "They may have started with the easiest cases they have."

~snip~

"Anyone who's had his photograph taken with Abramoff gets nervous when someone else pleads guilty. They're looking over their shoulders, they're calling their lawyers," said Los Angeles white collar defense attorney Michael J. Proctor.

That list includes former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, who is under scrutiny in the case, and Sen. Conrad Burns (news, bio, voting record), R-Mont., who received about $150,000 in donations from Abramoff and his associates and whose aides traveled on the lobbyist's jet to the 2001 Super Bowl.

Rep. John Doolittle (news, bio, voting record), R-Calif., also used Abramoff's luxury sports box for a fundraiser without initially reporting it. Doolittle's wife and one of his former aides also worked for Abramoff.


more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060916/ap_on_go_co/congressional_corruption

[maddezmom]

1. list of people convicted so far

CONVICTED SO FAR
Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in January to mail fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion charges in connection with his lobbying work.

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, who on Friday agreed to plead guilty to improperly accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of trips, meals, sports tickets and casino chips.

Tony Rudy, lobbyist and one-time aide to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who pleaded guilty in March to conspiring with Abramoff.

David Safavian, found guilty in June of covering up his dealings with Abramoff while a General Services Administration official.

more:http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sfl-aneybox16sep16,0,4556820.story?coll=sfla-news-nationworld

List also includes: Michael Scanlon, Neil Volz, Roger Stillwell

[lonestarnot]

2. So seven altogether so far.

[maddezmom]

3. so far with Abamoff, but don't forget Cunningham

In another high-profile case, the CIA inspector general is investigating whether the agency's former No. 3 official, Kyle Dustin "Dusty" Foggo, improperly accepted expensive vacations and other rewards for awarding CIA contracts to a lifelong friend who is linked to the bribery scandal surrounding ex-Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
http://ktla.trb.com/news/la-na-contractors17sep17,0,1192277.story?coll=ktla-news-1

and Porter Goss's resignation:


BREAKING: CIA Director Porter Goss Resigns
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/05/05/breaking-cia-director-porter-goss-resigns/

[lonestarnot]

5. Waiting and watching

[leveymg]

4. Thanks for posting this. Important topic that's been lost amidst

the "white noise" and disinformation stories, such as Rove and Novak's BS.