Former Ohio Congressman Bob Ney Released Early On Corruption Charges

Columbus, OH (AHN) - Former Ohio Rep. Bob Ney has been given an early release from his 30-month prison sentence for corruption charges in connection with the Jack Abramoff congressional controversy.

Ney was released from a Cincinnati halfway house last Friday after 17 and a half months in jail. He began his sentence in March 2007 at the Federal Corrections Institution in Morgantown after pleading guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and falsifying financial documents in September 2006.

The eight-term congressman had received bribes from Jack Abramoff, a Republican businessman accused of illegal lobbying activities including defrauding of American Indian tribes and making donations to several officials.

Ney, a former chair of the House Administration Committee, is the only lawmaker to be convicted of fraud charges in connection with Abramoff. He was employed as a researcher by Talk Radio News Service bureau chief Ellen Ratner during his prison term, and will serve as a political contributor to the liberal radio news outlet now that he has been released, according to the Wheeling News Register.

Abramoff is serving a six-year jail sentence for unrelated charges of conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion. Several officials have been accused of taking gifts from Abramoff, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Rep. John Doolittle (R-CA) and former Interior Department Deputy Secretary J. Steven Griles.