Green buddy Ney has his hands full

When Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, comes to Milwaukee Monday at the behest of Rep. Mark Green to hold a "hearing" on voter fraud, folks will just have to bear with him if he seems a little preoccupied.

This probably won't interfere with his preaching to people in Wisconsin about ethics, but, the Dayton Daily News reports, Ney has a few other things going on in his life:

Dems call for Ney to quit post
But Republican doesn't intend to resign chairmanship

WASHINGTON The Ohio Democratic Party is calling for U.S. Rep. Bob Ney to resign his chairmanship of the House Administration Committee after reports that Ney used campaign money to pay for his legal fees related to a federal investigation of indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Such an expenditure is legal. But Brian Rothenberg, a state Democratic spokesman, said, "When you're a chairman raising money for your own legal defense and trying to use your position to leverage yourself out of trouble, you're not going to be focused on the best interests of the nation."

Ney spokesman Brian Walsh said Ney, a Republican from St. Clairsville and a six-term congressman, has no intention of resigning his chairmanship...

On Tuesday, The Washington Post, citing unidentified sources, reported that Ney is under investigation by prosecutors looking into Abramoff's acquisition of casino boat company SunCruz Casinos.

Abramoff and business partner Adam Kidan were indicted in August on fraud charges related to the purchase.

Walsh said Ney is not aware of any federal investigation of him.

According to federal elections reports, Ney paid $135,881 to the Houston law firm of Vinson & Elkins on Aug. 2.

Walsh confirmed a lawyer from the firm's D.C. office is handling Ney's legal issues related to the Abramoff investigation.

"If allegations like this are being made, you hire someone to defend yourself," Walsh said.

Ney's involvement in the SunCruz situation stems from two inserts he made into the congressional record in 2000.

On March 30, 2000, Ney inserted a statement criticizing SunCruz and its owner Gus Boulis.

At the time, Abramoff and Kidan were attempting to buy the company.

Six months later, Ney praised Kidan and his buy of SunCruz.

Boulis — who retained some involvement with SunCruz after its purchase — was later murdered in Florida. Police have charged three men, including one linked to Kidan.

Walsh said Ney inserted the comments at the behest of Michael Scanlon, a former aide to former Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Scanlon and Abramoff were associates. "(Ney) had no dealings with Jack Abramoff on this," Walsh said.

Ney is also the subject of scrutiny in relation to an Indian tribe that hired Abramoff as a lobbyist.

Earlier post: Green invites his twin to hold 'hearing.'