Friday, July 28, 2006 1:30 PM
WCLT News Staff
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| 18th District Congressman Bob Ney |
18th District Congressman Bob Ney of Heath says he’s staying focused on his job despite an investigation that could lead to his indictment.
Neil Volz, who is Ney’s former Chief of Staff, is cooperating with prosecutors as they look into congressional ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who faces years in prison for fraud and corruption.
“I’m focused on my job. You can’t let this thing get a hold of you. I think it has spun out of control. I really do. I think, again, fact will be separated from fiction. I just think this has went so far people have jumped off the diving board.”
Ney says he’s not dwelling on the situation
“It’s not a pleasant thing but you have to focus. I do my job, I commute back home and I’m around the district. That’s what my job is. You just can’t let this whole situation out here involving a lot of members now swirl around and stop and the work of Washington. It just can’t happen.”
Ney says he’s cooperating with investigators in the Abramoff case.
“I’ve talked to them. I’ve sat down and I said I would. I haven’t been called back again. If they want to sit down and talk to me again I will and I said I would do that and so would my staff.”
Ney says a member of his eastern Ohio office was subpoenaed two weeks ago.
“I’m not concerned. We have nothing to hide. I will tell you this that don’t you find it unusual that after 17 months that the Justice Department all of the sudden, 120 days before the election, subpoenas a staffer. They could have called him within the last 17 months. I’ll leave it right at that. I find it very unusual.”
Ney adds he doesn’t know how it will turnout.
“I don’t know where it’s headed at the end of the day, but I do known that I care about issues. I care about illegal immigrants. I care about China taking our jobs. I care about healthcare that we need for Americans. I care about veteran’s issues. I care about the district. I can’t sit here and speculate and spend my time speculating on where this is going. It will go where it goes or it will go where it doesn’t”
Ney has not been charged with any wrongdoing and has said that he will run for re-election even if he is indicted.
