Ney Drops Re-election Bid

Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, a housing subcommittee chairman who has been tainted by the congressional lobbying scandal, has dropped his re-election bid for a seventh term and plans to step down in January."After much consideration and thought, I have decided to no longer seek re-election," Rep. Ney said. His ties to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe congressmen, have dogged Rep. Ney for the past year. It is understood that federal prosecutors are considering bringing possible charges against the Ohio congressman. "Congressman Ney's decision is a political and practical one and not a legal one," his attorney said. "Congressman Ney has done nothing wrong, and there is no credible basis to charge him with a violation of law." Rep. Ney chairs the housing subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee.