Ex-Congressman Ney attacks ex-colleagues

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, March 7 (UPI) -- Former Congressman Robert Ney, who spent 17 months in prison for taking bribes, takes aim at his former Republican colleagues in a new book.

Ney returned to Washington for a book launch party on Capitol Hill, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported. "Sideswiped: Lessons Learned Courtesy of the Hit Men of Capitol Hill" describes his time in prison as well as in Congress.

Ney, usually known as "Bob," has especially harsh words for House Speaker John Boehner, also an Ohio Republican. He devotes several chapters to Boehner, who became majority leader during Ney's final year in Congress.

"Many felt that his money-raising focus would make up for his lack of concern about legislation -- he was considered a man who was all about winning and money," Ney said of the speaker. "He was a chain-smoking, relentless wine drinker who was more interested in the high life -- golf, women, cigarettes, fun and alcohol."

Boehner spokesman Michael Steel responded by calling Ney "sad." He said Ney is "a convicted felon with a history of failing to tell the truth, making a lot of baseless accusations to try and sell books."

Ney also takes on Sen. John McCain, suggesting he went after lobbyist Jack Abramoff in the investigation that led to Ney's undoing to remove the taint of McCain's being one of the "Keating Five." In the book, Ney also described a session with President George W. Bush, who was trying to convince him to support the Central American Free Trade Agreement, as resembling "something out of 'Saturday Night Live.' "

Ney resigned from Congress in November 2006 after pleading guilty. He was sentenced to 30 months in prison and served 17.

Since his release, Ney has been working in radio and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.