Ney: Abuses will continue despite new ethics law

Former Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) said Wednesday that the lobbying bill passed in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal that sent him to prison probably won't stop abuses in Washington.
 
In his first interview since his release from a Cincinnati area halfway house, Ney told West Virginia-based talk show host Howard Monroe on the "Howard Monroe and the Morning Show" that the ethics law has loopholes. For example, Ney note that lobbyists are still allowed to host events at conventions.

"Anybody who thinks lobbyists aren't paying for things — ­ they are," Ney said.

{mosads}"I think lobbyists are still needed they are needed out there [but] the question is: Would a member do something for money? I think that the lobby will will probably help somewhat, but it was most likely a cosmetic situation too because lobbyists are still allowed to host things at conventions and lobbyists are still out there."

Ney added that the answer isn't to shut down lobbying shops, because most provide useful information to members.

"It's about not abusing the situation, which is what I did and what my staff did, so it's about not doing that," he said.

Ney served 17 of the 30 months he was sentenced to in January 2007 after pleading guilty in 2006 to corruption charges stemming from his relationship with Abramoff, the imprisoned former lobbyist who was sentenced to nearly six years in jail.

The former Ohio lawmaker indicated that stricter enforcement of the rules by the House and Senate ethics committees could help prevent future clashes between members and the Justice Department.

"In my case the ethics committee evaporated and you ended up with a direct, head-on confrontation with the Justice Department and I'm not sure in all cases that is the best way. Internal enforcement by the House and the Senate is also good, and then it can be referred to Justice — ­ a two-pronged approach — but the ethics committee evaporated at that point in time when I was there," he said.

Asked whether he was given fair treatment by the judiciary system and whether he deserved to go to prison, Ney said his errors in judgment, brought in by his alcoholism, were justly reflected in his sentence.

"Yeah, I believe I did ­ some things that, frankly, with the alcohol … can diminish your judgment and in some cases I didn't care. [I thought], 'So what? Everybody goes out and eats dinner … no one keeps track of it.' The blasé things you get into ­— you let your guard down. That's what I did and I paid a price for it," he said.

Ney plans to work as a contributor for Talk Radio News Service (TRNS) with longtime friend Ellen Ratner.

"I've been picking up the pieces and thanks to Ellen Ratner, I have got a job. Well, I'm pretty fortunate," Ney said.

During his months in prison, Ney said he tutored fellow inmates, answered letters and read more books than he had in 12 years. He also entered a 12-step program to deal with his alcoholism.

Asked whether the experience had changed him, Ney responded, "This type of yhing changes you. I didn't come out bitter or losing my bearings. I'm not saying that everything is absolutely fine — substance abuse is not a good thing. That's a good change."