Saturday, December 09, 2006

CULTURE OF CORRUPTION [Byron York]
According to a number of news outlets, Rep. William "Cold Cash" Jefferson has won re-election to the House from Louisiana's Second Congressional District.

House Republicans gave Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio) a standing ovation after he told them yesterday that he has no plans to resign and will vigorously fend off a likely federal indictment.

Unlike Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who announced his retirement after a former top aide pleaded guilty in the Jack Abramoff investigation, Ney is vowing to remain in Congress despite the recent plea deal of a high-level ex-aide, former Chief of Staff Neil Volz.

During their weekly Wednesday-morning meeting, Ney informed his House GOP colleagues that he remains committed to fighting the federal investigation into whether he exchanged legislative favors for trips, gifts and meals.

Ney has not been indicted in the broad Justice Department investigation, but he has been referred to in the guilty pleas of four Republican lobbyists, including Volz, who pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy to bribe public officials.

He informed members yesterday that he would not stand before them, nor would he put his wife, his children or his elderly parents through the ordeal of fighting a federal probe, if he did not believe that he would eventually be cleared of the allegations.

Upon finishing his remarks, an overwhelming majority of the members present, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), gave Ney a standing ovation.

“It was a very heartfelt discussion,” Hastert told reporters afterward.