Ohio congressman's legal payments on hold (Bob Ney)

[Judi Lynn]

Monday, July 17, 2006 · Last updated 3:30 p.m. PT

Ohio congressman's legal payments on hold

By DAVID HAMMER
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Bob Ney hasn't paid legal bills in six months, even as a federal probe of influence-peddling in Congress appears to close in on the Ohio Republican.

"Payment will be taken care of in due course," said Mark Tuohey, the lead lawyer at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Washington, the firm Ney retained and paid $232,381 between August 2005 and Jan. 5.

Tuohey said Ney "needs money for his campaign and that's a priority right now. He intends to pay. He'll pay his fees, I have no doubt about that."

Ney hasn't been charged, but the Justice Department has documented claims by lobbyists that he performed official acts in exchange for things of value. Ney, who denies any wrongdoing, said he eventually will use a separate legal defense fund to pay his lawyers. That fund started raising money in January and collected $40,000 by March 31, the latest data available.
(snip/...)

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1153AP_Ney_Campaign_Finance.html

[annabanana]

1. Can he do this? Is all Ohio money this liquid?

From here he looks like he's imploding in a big self-delusion bubble..

[MrBenchley]

2. In related news...

Ney may be stiffing his lawyers, but Lewis of California is paying his with campaign contributions...

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001143.php

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. This amounts to a campaign contribution then

Unless of course, Ney's lawyers let all their clients take their time paying their bills.

[Kolesar]

4. It's early here

Thanks for explaining that :coffee:

[cmd]

5. He is in big trouble financially

He has about $420,00 and has to owe V&E at least another $232,000. That leaves him with $188,000 for his campaign. He's not going to have much left over to buy pigs at the fair auctions this year. (From story below)


He said he's comfortable with his expenses because with about $420,000 in his coffers, he still has twice the cash on hand as does Space, an advantage he plans to keep using for charities at the county fairs that opened this month.

"I estimate I've spent more than $100,000 on livestock over the course of my career," "Those types of things in support of 4-H and charitable groups count for something at the end of the day. It's important to build up that goodwill."


http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/politics/15059561.htm

[MiniMe]

6. Not a good idea to piss off your lawyers with a big trial looming nt

[dsc]

7. Of course Clinton couldn't do this

He had to raise funds and pay his bills.

[Smooth Operator]

8. well

he's raised $40,000 since March, oh boy that's enough to pay for a lawyer to fart at the judge.

[klyon]

10. Well not totally true

Clinton left office with a huge debt (millions) but everyone new all he had to do was make a few speeches and he could pay off. Not sure Ney has that kind of drawing power.

[gratuitous]

9. Who's going to contribute to Ney's campaign?

If they figure the money's just going to be converted to his defense fund, who's going to give Ney a campaign contribution? Bob looks to be in a weensy bit of trouble, it sounds like.