Former Tom DeLay top aid, Michael Scanlon, plead guilty yesterday to to conspiring to bribe a congressman and other public officials and is now cooperating with prosecutors. At the top of Scablon's list is Republican Congressman Robert Ney of Ohio. Ohio Republicans are already reeling from a number of other ethical and criminal charges over the last year that go all the way up to the Governor, Bob Taft.
As I pointed out before, there will be lot that shakes out of this tree. Most will be on the Republican side of the isle, but, undoubtedly, there will be some Democrats wrapped up in this as well. Good riddance to them all.
Abramoff Partner Pleads Guilty
By James V. Grimaldi and Susan Schmidt
Washington Post Staff Writers
Tuesday, November 22, 2005; Page A01
A onetime congressional staffer who became a top partner to lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiring to bribe a congressman and other public officials and agreed to pay back more than $19 million he fraudulently charged Indian tribal clients.
The plea agreement between prosecutors and Michael Scanlon, a former press secretary to then-House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Tex.), provided fresh detail about the alleged bribes. The document also indicated the nature of testimony Scanlon is prepared to offer against a congressman it calls "Representative #1" -- who has been identified by attorneys in the case as Rep. Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio).
Scanlon, a 35-year-old former public relations executive, faces a maximum five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, but the penalty could be reduced depending on the level of his cooperation with prosecutors. His help is expected to be crucial to the Justice Department's wide-ranging Abramoff investigation, which began early last year after the revelation that Scanlon and the lobbyist took in tens of millions of dollars from Indian tribes unaware of their secret partnership to jack up fees and split profits.
(Full Story)
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