Rep. Bob Ney pleads guilty of bribery in Abramoff scandal

It is time for another exciting episode of The Jack Abramoff Show! This is off The Washington Post:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Ney pleaded guilty Friday in the Jack Abramoff influence-peddling investigation, the first lawmaker to confess to crimes in an election-year scandal that has stained the Republican-controlled Congress and the Bush administration.

Standing before Judge Ellen S. Huvelle, Ney pleaded guilty to conspiracy and making false statements. He acknowledged taking money, gifts and favors in return for official actions on behalf of Abramoff and his clients.

Ney did not immediately resign from Congress, and within minutes, Republican and Democratic leaders vowed to expel him unless he steps down.

[....]

The 52-year-old lawmaker faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Huvelle said prosecutors had agreed to recommend a term of 27 months, and said federal guidelines suggest a fine of between $5,000 and $60,000.

Ney did not resign his seat. Several officials have said the congressman is financially strapped and needs his $165,200 annual paycheck and benefits as long as he can continue to receive them.

You've got to love that last paragraph--Bob Ney is so financially strapped so we have to allow him to collect his congressional paycheck until he goes into prison. If Ney was working for a private company, he would have been gone--Period.

Of course, this is another big problem for the Republicans here. Ney is the first lawmaker to be convicted in the Abramoff scandal. And since Ney will probably cooperate with the feds for a reduced sentence, you can bet that other Republican Party lawmakers will start feeling some heat. And it also doesn't look good for the Republicans that Ney is refusing to step down from Congress--even as he's pleaded guilty. With Ney refusing to resign his seat, this revives the Abramoff scandal and shows how the Republicans are so intent on maintaining their control of Congress just four weeks before the election. It also doesn't help the Republicans that Ney's involvement in the Abramoff scandal is competing for space with the Foley sex scandal--again less than four weeks before the election. Talk about insanity here.

Pass the popcorn please?