Corruption Watch

by hilzoy

Via TPMMuckraker: Rep. Bob Ney's ex-chief of staff is pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and to violating the one-year ban on lobbying. The 'criminal information' documents on his plea claim that he and others provided "things of value to public officials to induce and to ensure favorable official action and other assistance to their clients when needed", and specify one "Representative #1", whose chief of staff Volz was, as having performed official actions after receiving those "things of value".

As Josh Marshall says, bad news for Ney. But good news for us, not only because it's always good news when the law catches up with corrupt officials, but also because it's important to show that selling your public service for expensive golf trips can land you in jail.

And speaking of expensive golf trips, now might be a good time to mention this story, which came out on Saturday:

"Prosecutors have e-mails showing Rep. Tom DeLay's office knew lobbyist Jack Abramoff had arranged the financing for the GOP leader's controversial European golfing trip in 2000 and was concerned "if someone starts asking questions."

House ethics rules bar lawmakers from accepting free trips from lobbyists. DeLay, R-Texas, reported to Congress that a Republican advocacy group had paid for the spring 2000 trip that DeLay, his wife and top aides took to Scotland and England.

The e-mails obtained by The Associated Press show DeLay's staff asked Abramoff -- not the advocacy group -- to account for the costs that had to be legally disclosed on congressional travel forms. DeLay's office was worried the group being cited as paying the costs might not even know about them, the e-mails state.

Abramoff's team sought to low-ball the cost estimates and DeLay's office ultimately reported to Congress a total that was a few thousand dollars lower than the one the lobbyist provided, the documents show.

"We should give them the most minimal numbers for cost of the hotel (do not include golf), food and plays," Abramoff wrote two assistants at his Preston Gates lobbying firm in an e-mail from June 29, 2000. One of those assistants, Susan Ralston, now works for top White House adviser Karl Rove. (...)

Federal prosecutors have secured the cooperation of Abramoff and Rudy, and are investigating whether DeLay filed false public reports to disguise the source and size of political donations, travel and other gifts he received from special interests. Several witnesses have been questioned in recent months about the Scotland trip e-mails. (...)

Ralston wrote she had a follow-up conversation with DeLay's office. Hirschmann wanted "a name" of someone at the GOP group who would attest to paying for the trip and was concerned whether the center's executive director, Amy Ridenour, knew about the costs.

"She (Hirschmann) just wants to make sure that if someone starts asking questions that Amy Ridenour knows about these s," Ralston wrote."

Tom DeLay is going down. It couldn't happen to a more deserving guy.

And yes, I feel the same way about Rep. William Jefferson:

"A Louisville man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to bribing Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) with more than $400,000 in payments, company stock and a share of the profits to promote the Kentucky firm's high-tech business ventures in Africa."

If he is corrupt, he should go to jail, and shame on him.

Comments

[Ugh]

Can we call ourselves a banana republic now?

[Pooh]

We actually grow things here? More of a "Credit Card Debt Run Up at Bananan Republic" Republic

[Ugh]

Ethanol republic?

[Debbie(aussie)]

Do any of these accusations make it likely that DeLay will have to resign and/or go to prision. Is it more likely that he will have to lose an election. Is he up for re-election this November (sorry about my ignorance, just a curious Aussie).
Does the fact that Ralston works for Rove have any implications at all?

[hilzoy]

Debbie: he has announced that he won't seek reelection, if memory serves. He's definitely out of the leadership, and out of Congress. I just hope he's thrown in jail so that anyone who's tempted to emulate him will think twice.

[Debbie(aussie)]

Thanks Hilzoy. Hear hear!

[TokyoTom]

It is good to see corrupt politicians bite the dust, and hard, but the benefits for voters and Democrats will be limited as long as the parties are able to get away with unfettered political redistricting (limited only by the need under the Civil Rights Act to ensure that minorities are not underrepresented), like what DeLay rammed through in Texas.

Let's hope that the Supreme Court gives us a meaningful ruling in the Texas and other cases now before it.