WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., was reportedly in talks with Rep. Robert Ney, R-Ohio, Friday intended to strip Ney of a House committee chairmanship.
The Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call first reported the development, and CNN later confirmed that Hastert and Ney were discussing Ney's removal as chairman of the Committee on House Administration, which oversees federal elections and the day-to-day functions of the House of Representatives.
Ney, who has been chairman of the committee since January 1991, was recently linked to Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who pleaded guilty last week to three felony charges in connection with an influence-peddling scandal. Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion and is cooperating with authorities on other investigations.
Federal investigators released documents in the case indicating that Abramoff had bribed members of Congress including someone identified as "Representative # 1." The Washington Post said the unidentified congressman was Ney, who has denied any wrongdoing.
Ney told his House colleagues last November he had been subpoenaed in the investigation and has set up a legal defense fund.
