The House ethics committee is opening an investigation into Rep. Bob Ney (R-Ohio), one of the lawmakers implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandal, and said it would have opened one into Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas), who also has been implicated.

Ney faces allegations that he accepted bribes from a former staffer who went to work for Abramoff. The former staffer pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the Department of Justice, whose probe is separate from the ethics committee's.

The committee said it would have investigated DeLay but he is leaving Congress on June 9. A former DeLay staffer has pleaded guilty and is also cooperating with federal investigators.

A third lawmaker, Rep. William Jefferson (D-Louisiana), is going to be investigated by the ethics committee as well. He is accused of accepting bribes.

Get the Story:
Ethics Panel Starts 3 Probes (The Washington Post 5/17)
pwpwd
2 in Congress Face Ethics Investigations (The New York Times 5/18)
pwnyt

Court Documents:
Charge of Information | Guilty Plea | Factual Proffer

Relevant Links:
Rep. Bob Ney - http://ney.house.gov
Ney for Congress - http://www.bobney.org

Related Stories:
Rep. Ney defiant after ex-staffer pleads guilty (5/11)
Latest Abramoff guilty plea points to Rep. Ney (5/9)
Rep. Ney lashes out after former staffer pleads (5/9)
Another guilty plea from Team Abramoff (5/8)
Rep. Ney wins GOP primary amid Abramoff woes (5/3)
Rep. Ney faces wider probe in Abramoff scandal (5/1)
Judge to read Abramoff e-mails in ex-official's case (4/27)
Rep. Ney denies 'tit for tat' in Abramoff scandal (4/24)
Sen. Coburn expects seven lawmakers to go to jail (04/20)
Lobbyist traded on DeLay's name to get tribal money (04/03)
Ex-DeLay aide, Abramoff associate, pleads guilty (03/31)
Abramoff not slowing down Burns, DeLay or Ney (03/03)
Abramoff tried to exploit tribes for Washington project (02/13)
Lawmakers are targeted in round two of Abramoff (02/06)
Rep. Ney to make re-election announcement (01/26)
Rep. Ney trying to convince DOJ he is not guilty (01/17)
GOP Congressman latest casualty in Abramoff scandal (01/16)
Abramoff pleads guilty in Washington lobbying scandal (01/04)
Rep. Ney returns Tigua money, just not to Tiguas (12/16)
Bush discusses Abramoff tribal lobbying scandal (12/15)
McCain expects 'lots' of indictments in Abramoff case (12/05)
Ohio Congressman not worried about Abramoff probe (12/01)
Ad campaign highlights Rep. Ney's ties to Abramoff (11/30)
Editorial: Corruption scheme and Rep. Bob Ney (11/28)
Salon: Is the end near for Congressman Ney? (11/23)
Ney: 'Why would I hurt an Indian tribe?' (11/23)
Plea deal raises more questions about scandal (11/22)
Ohio Congressman at center of bribery scheme (11/22)
Scanlon pleads guilty in lobbying probe (11/21)
Abramoff lobbying inquiry far from over (11/18)
Ohio Congressman sets up Abramoff defense fund (11/8)
Ohio Congressman subpoenaed in Abramoff case (11/7)
Ohio Congressman denies Abramoff allegations (10/20)
Ohio Congressman swept into Abramoff investigation (10/18)
Ohio Congressman sought 'cover' for golf trip (09/26)
Ohio Congressman vouched for indicted Abramoff pal (08/16)
Authorities feared Abramoff would flee to Israel (8/15)
Scanlon not on Abramoff's golf trip to Scotland (8/15)
Ads target Ney for role in Abramoff scandal (06/16)
Tigua Tribe feels 'betrayed' by Jack Abramoff (06/13)
Ney's role in Abramoff scandal puts him in jeopardy (06/06)
Ralph Reed played tribes against each other (06/06)
Commentary: Ney just a 'friend' of Jack Abramoff (05/24)
Lawyer: Abramoff did nothing wrong in Washington (05/23)
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress (05/19)
Tribal funds helped Abramoff's failed Jewish school (05/18)
Complaint drafted for Ney's role in Tigua scam (05/17)
Column: Ney investigated for Abramoff donations (5/11)
Abramoff lobbying scandal prompts look at rules (5/9)
Jack Abramoff breaks silence on lobbying scandal (5/2)
McCain won't touch lawmakers in probe of Abramoff (4/28)
Ney signed onto bill after using tribe's luxury suite (4/28)
Foe of Texas tribes denies knowing Abramoff (4/18)
Tigua Tribe settles dispute over Abramoff fees (02/14)
Probe sought of Congressman linked to lobbyists (01/07)
Editorial: Ney's judgment 'clouded' by Abramoff (12/20)
Ney to meet with ethics panel over Abramoff ties (12/16)
Congressman subject of inquiry for Abramoff ties (12/15)
Editorial: Ney not exactly a victim in Tigua case (12/03)
Former Ney chief of staff worked with Abramoff (11/19)
High-priced lobbyist scam linked to lawmakers (11/18)
Tigua Tribe to testify at Senate lobbying hearing (11/16)
Tigua Tribe mum on Washington lobbyists (10/12)
Texas AG asked to investigate Abramoff, Scanlon (10/1)
Ex-tribal lobbyists slammed in Senate hearing (9/30)
Tigua Tribe outraged over being played as 'moronic' (9/28)
Tribes told to donate to lobbyists' foundation (9/28)
Lobbyists worked for, against 'moronic' Tiguas (9/27)
Senate hearing on tribal lobbying probe set (8/26)
Busy Indian Affairs Committee hits snag on big issues (06/17)
Indian Affairs Committee activity this week (6/15)
Indian Country awaits outcome of lobbying probe (05/18)