Auction House

Politics | With earmarks exploding in number, the relationships between lobbyists and politicians grow increasingly cozy | Les Sillars

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Journalists filling the District Court's Room 14 in Washington last month were in a jovial mood while waiting for the arrival of U.S. Rep. Robert Ney (R-Ohio). Two joked about how Ney had denied allegations of influence peddling for a year before breaking down. Now they chuckled, "Oh, yeah, he's disgraced." Ney, despite puffy eyes from a month of treatment for alcoholism, looked like a man untroubled by conscience.

After Ney's swearing-in, Judge Ellen Huvelle read through the details of the offenses. Had he accepted campaign contributions, meals, game tickets, trips, and gambling chips (worth tens of thousands of dollars) in exchange for amending legislation, inserting statements in the Congressional Record, and pushing a multimillion-dollar wireless contract with the House of Representatives, all on behalf of convicted ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff's clients? Did he then try to cover it up? "Yes, your honor," Ney said calmly after each. How did he plead? "I plead guilty, your honor." He will be sentenced Jan. 19. Prosecutors have asked for a 27-month sentence.

ACCESS THIS ARTICLE IMMEDIATELY AND RECEIVE ONE MONTH OF ONLINE ACCESS AND TWO ISSUES OF WORLD'S PRINT EDITION—ALL FOR JUST $5. SEE THE NEW SUBSCRIBER BOX BELOW.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A PRINT OR ONLINE-ONLY SUBSCRIBER, PLEASE LOG IN BELOW.

The complete article is ~1371 words long

Current Subscriber

Magazine
Subscriber

Online-Only
Subscriber

Click here for other subscription options that also will enable you to access this article.

New Subscriber

Secure form

Receive instant access to this article and one-month access to WORLD's subscriber-only online content — plus, enjoy 2 issues of WORLD's print edition — all for just $5*.

Want a different type of subscription? Click the following links for Online-Only Subscription options or Print Subscription options (which include online subscription access).

Payment Information

Name	State	Card Type

Address	Zip	Card Number

City	Email	Expiration Date
		/
	Phone Number

Offer Terms

Subscribers Advantage Automatic Renewal Program You authorize WORLD Magazine to charge your credit/debit card at the price listed above and in time to renew your subscription to WORLD Magazine, without interruption, before the start of the first 6-month term (for $34.95) and then thereafter at 6-month terms at the regular rate then in effect unless you tell us to stop. You may cancel at any time during your subscription and receive a full refund on all unmailed issues. If your credit/debit card cannot be charged, we will bill you directly instead.

*Offer good in the U.S. only for new subscribers.
I agree to the terms above

Outside the US, click here.
Renewing subscribers, click here.
Gift subscriptions, click here.

NEED HELP? Call 800-951-6397, Monday-Friday (except holidays), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET, or send email to customerservice@worldmag.com.

Copyright © 2012 God's World Publications
All rights reserved
Articles may not be reproduced without permission
November 11, 2006, Vol. 21, No. 43

Demsnami Nov. 4, 2006	Too close to call Oct. 28, 2006	Double trouble Oct. 21, 2006
Can't run or hide Oct. 14, 2006	Autumn books Oct. 7, 2006	Street theater Sep. 30, 2006