Opinion

Editorial: No second chance for Ex-Rep. Bob Ney

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

"Some people make bad decisions. Sometimes those decisions put them in prison. Some even deserve a second chance.

This is not the case with former Congressman Bob Ney.

Ney, who last week was moved from federal prison to a Cincinnati halfway house, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for selling his influence while representing the 18th Congressional District. The Congressman spent months denying involvement with superlobbyist Jack Abramoff, who bought Ney's influence with lavish trips and other gifts, all the while campaigning for another term in office.

Finally, he came clean when evidence became overwhelming and the House was considering an expulsion vote. The one-time "mayor of Capitol Hill" who helped tighten Capitol security after 9/11, sponsored the Help America Vote Act, acted as a veterans advocate and guided various local projects through the legislative process, had taken bribes.

It was a slap in the face of supporters and voters, a cold splash of water that caused many in the 18th look askance at their officials. Taking money for favors is the worst sin an elected public official can commit in America, and we here in the 18th Congressional District had to live with it."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Ney earned every moment of 30 months (The Chillicothe Gazette 2/27)