Bob Ney, the congressman once known as “the mayor of Capitol Hill,” became the latest political casualty of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, bowing out of his race for a seventh term.
The Ohio Republican is one of several people caught up in the Justice Department’s investigation into Abramoff’s admitted bribery of public officials.
Ney, whose “mayor” moniker came from his position as chairman of the House committee that awarded office space, had vowed to stay in the race even after one of his former aides pleaded guilty and began cooperating with the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Unit here in D.C.
But in a statement released to the nation’s media Monday, Ney, 52, said he was quitting the race for the sake of his family.
“I can no longer put them through this ordeal,” the statement said.
Published reports during the weekend said Ney had told an Ohio state senator of his decision and asked her to run in his place.
Ney has not been charged with any crime. But he and his aides have been subpoenaed in the Justice Department probe and the House ethics committee is investigating his conduct.
Court papers quote Abramoff as saying that he lavished gifts and campaign donations on an unnamed House member. Officials have confirmed the House member was Ney.
As a member of the House, Ney was an outspoken friend of Abramoff’s clients. He backed legislation that helped a California Indian tribe with its taxes and a post office. As chair of the House Administration Committee, Ney approved a contract to wire the House for cellular reception. The contract went to an Abramoff client.
Several figures, including Abramoff himself, have already pleaded guilty to corruption charges, admitting that they lavishedgifts and cash on politicians so that they would look favorably on Abramoff’s clients.
Beyond the legal casualties, there have also been political ones.
Democrats, hoping to recapture the House, had called Ney “Exhibit A” in what they called “a culture of corruption” under a Republican-held Congress.
And earlier this year, former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed lost election for Georgia’s lieutenant governor after he was linked to Abramoff.
In a statement released Monday, House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio steered clear of the political implications of Ney’s decision.
Calling Ney “a good friend,” Boehner hailed him for “putting his family first in this difficult situation” and adding that “my thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
