Bob Ney's hometown newspaper, the
Times-Reporter of Dover-New Philadephia, OH is reporting today that three of the Congressman's key staff members are resigning. Matt Parker, manager of Ney's re-election campaign has also been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in conjunction with the ever-growing Jack Abramoff investigation. I'm assuming that campaign managers don't have special priveleges like attorneys or doctors or spouses which allow them to decline to testify.
This can only be construed as bad news for Mr. Ney, and good news for his challenger, Zack Space. And by extension, for the whole country.
From the
Columbus Dispatch:
Matt Parker, who has served as district director for Ney's office in Ohio as well as an adviser to the re-election campaign, was ordered to turn over documents to federal prosecutors and testify before a grand jury in Washington. Parker's subpoena was made public yesterday in an announcement on the House floor, as required when lawmakers or staff members receive subpoenas. Parker could not be reached for comment.
Also announced yesterday were the departures of Brian Walsh, a longtime Ney spokesman; Will Heaton, Ney's chief of staff; and Chris Otillio, a senior legislative aide. Heaton was with Ney on a lavish 2002 golf trip to Scotland arranged by Abramoff. That trip is part of what federal prosecutors are examining in an investigation of Ney's ties to Abramoff.
Jack Abramoff, Jason Murdoch (golf organizer), Ralph Reed, David Safavian, and Bob Ney at St. Andrews
The New Philadelphia paper reports:
Roll Call, a newspaper that covers Capitol Hill, reported Thursday that Parker was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in the Abramoff investigation. The paper, quoting anonymous sources, said more subpoenas of Ney staffers are expected.
...
Political observers said the staff shakeup was another sign of Ney's legal and political troubles.
"Sometimes those things happen, but in this context it's impossible to interpret it as anything but a commentary about the current scandal swirling around him," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer describes the close relationship between Parker & Ney:
Parker is one of Ney's top aides. He and Ney bought houses on the same street in Heath last year within days of each other. Parker's congressional salary also climbed exponentially throughout the year, quarterly House reports indicate.
Parker went from earning $4,440 in the year's first quarter to $10,000 in the second, to $18,499 in the third, to $33,500 in the fourth. Ney spokesman Brian Walsh said Parker's salary rose because of promotions and that he moved to a house across the street from Ney because his wife liked it. He declined to comment on Parker's subpoena, and Parker did not return telephone calls to his home or Ney's campaign headquarters.
"Any suggestion or implication that the office of Ohio's 18th Congressional District is operating at anything less than full speed ahead is baseless and without merit," Ney said in a statement. Meanwhile, Bill Burton, communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, issued a statement predicting that "Ney's cover-ups could soon become bright orange coveralls."
The Wheeling News-Register (Ney was born there) allows itself to venture into a little speculation:
A Washington insider and self-professed "political junkie" said he senses U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, will be indicted before the Nov. 7 general election for his role in the corruption scandal surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff.
The words of Ken Rudin, political editor for National Public Radio, came in Wheeling Thursday -- the same day the U.S. House announced that Ney district director/campaign manager Matthew Parker has been subpoenaed by federal prosecutors in the Abramoff case.
Meanwhile, other members of Ney's staff are expected to be leaving their jobs in the coming weeks.
Things are not looking up for Bob Ney. Which means they are looking up for us!