Former DeLay aide pleads guilty in corruption case
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Michael Scanlon, the former partner of the influential lobbyist Jack Abramoff, pled guilty to conspiracy to bribe congressmen and other public staffers. He agreed to pay back US$19 million to a defrauded Indian tribe and entered into a plea agreement. Scanlon is an ex-aide and press secretary to former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who was indicted in October on conspiracy and money laundering charges relating to his dealings with Abramoff.
The members of Congress involved in the corruption charges have not yet been named by the prosecutors, but Representative Bob Ney of Ohio has acknowledged that he is "Representative No. 1" named in the court papers. The prosecution alleges that Representative No. 1 accepted gifts, including a golf trip to a luxury resort in Scotland, and regular meals in an upscale D.C. restaurant "in exchange for a series of official acts and influence."
Ney is said to be cooperating with the investigation. According to Ney's spokesperson, Brian Walsh, Congressman Ney was a merely victim of Scanlon's illegal activities.
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edit- "Arrest warrant issued for Tom DeLay" — Wikinews, October 20, 2005
Sources
edit- United States District Court for the District of Columbia. "Michael P.S. Scanlon Plea Agreement" — FindLaw, November 11, 2005
- Richard Cowan. "Ex-DeLay aide pleads guilty in corruption case" — Reuters, November 21, 2005
- Philip Shenon. "Former DeLay Aide Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy" — New York Times, November 22, 2005
- James V. Grimaldi and Susan Schmidt. "Abramoff Partner Pleads Guilty" — Washington Post, November 22, 2005
- Jeff Franks. "DeLay in court for key hearing" — Washington Post, November 22, 2005