OT ABRAMOFF AND HIS BIG MOUTH ;) (Why Bob Ney Is No Christian)

Washington, DC - Republican Congressman Bob Ney's effort to
distance himself from Jack Abramoff is about to get much more
difficult.

Next month's issue of Vanity Fair magazine includes a revealing
profile of the scandal-plagued lobbyist that sheds new light on his
relationship with Ney.

While Ney has worked hard to paint himself as a victim of Abramoff, the
story shows that Ney was a willing participant in Abramoff's scheme
to trade campaign contributions for policy outcomes.

In the article, Abramoff details the legislative favors provided by
Ney, referred to as "Representative #1" in the plea deal Abramoff
reached with federal prosecutors earlier this year, in exchange for
$37,500 in campaign contributions and "a stream of things of value,"
including "lavish" golf trips, seats in Abramoff's sports boxes, and
free dinners at Abramoff's restaurant.

In return, Ney intervened on behalf of Abramoff's clients, helped a
relative of one of Abramoff's Russian clients get an American visa, and
defended Abramoff's shady business partners in the Congressional
Record.

The two worked so closely together, that Vanity Fair referred to Ney as
Abramoff's "fixer on Capitol Hill."

[Vanity Fair, April 2006]