Bob Ney (R-OH): Prosecuted for Not Playing Ball with Bush Administration

Bob Ney: Prosecuted for Not Playing Ball with Bush Administration

"They've taken bloodsport to a whole new level in this administration" Bob Ney: Republican congressman prosecuted by the Bush Justice Department, says in radio interview with Thom Hartmann.

Because he refused to play ball with the Bush administration, Bob Ney was prosecuted, in a dirty Rovian ploy Hartmann described as reminiscent of the Dan Siegelman case. That's the take-away from an interview Ney did with Air America Radio host Thom Hartmann.

Ney reported that he received communications from Iran, "Iran would have recognized Israel and a whole host of other things, would have let our inspectors on their ground; and I said that to the White House; I'll stand by that today; the white house denies it, but Colin Powell's former assistant admits that that [document] came over to the State Department and the White House wanted no part of it. "

Hartmann observed, "I think that we have political prisoners in the United States now. "

And AG Mukasey will surely just sit back and let it all slide by. No problemo.

Ney replied, "...but when you get in their path, I think they've taken bloodsport to a new level in this administration "

Let's not forget that Ney is no innocent, as Thom Hartmann pointed out, in a private email, "Ney really did take bribes, really has confessed to it, and really did serve prison time for it. He's a real felon and upfront about it. " The point is that there are plenty more corrupt GOP operators out there. Ney was nailed for not playing along.

Thom Hartman: You were prosecuted by the Bush Administration for what Ellen has characterized to me as mostly ... a political prosecution because you were pushing back on Iran. Can you speak to that? Please?

Ney: At the end of the day, I brought a lot of things on myself and I did some things that were wrong; but I also believe that part of this was fueled in the sense of the Iran issue.

It's been no secret that when I went to prison I gave permission for a secret meeting I'd had with Mr. Gorman who came from Switzerland. He presented a document that was absolutely incredible, where Iran would have recognized Israel and a whole host of other things, would have let our inspectors on their ground; and I said that to the White House; I'll stand by that today; the white house denies it, but Colin Powell's former assistant admits that that [document] came over to the State Department and the White House wanted no part of it.

I believe that every step of the way, and I think it came more from Cheney's people, but every step of the way that I attempted to deal with Iran, it got pretty harsh back. So I think part of this, I gave them the bullets, but I think some of the force was also involved with Iran and people that would rather see those countries not communicate, no matter who is head of Iran.

Hartmann: So Iran came to you, because you speak Farsi and you are the Iran expert in the House of Representatives...

Ney: Ambassador Goolaban, who was ambassador from Switzerland to Iran, he came to me.

Hartmann: Their representative, in other words they approached you through their legal representative...

Ney: And I had participated in the meeting in Stockholm...

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