Friday, December 16, 2005

Culture of Corruption: Ohio congressman accused of taking bribes in Tigua plot

AUSTIN -- El Paso political consultant Marc Schwartz alleged on national television Tuesday that a powerful Republican congressman took bribes in 2002 in exchange for getting legislation passed that would allow the Tiguas' Speaking Rock Casino to reopen.

"I think that Congressman (Bob) Ney (R-Ohio) had better get right with his God," Schwartz told ABC's "Nightline" Tuesday night.

Ney has denied wrongdoing, and said disgraced Washington super lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon duped him, too.

Schwartz represented the Tiguas in their failed 2002 bid to get Congress to pass legislation allowing their casino to reopen after then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn won a lawsuit forcing it to close. The tribe paid Abramoff and Scanlon $4.2 million to lead efforts on the Hill.

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