Today, ex-Rep. Bob Ney’s (R-OH) former chief of staff pled guilty to corruption charges related to the Jack Abramoff scandal, making Will Heaton the second of Ney’s chiefs of staff to do so. The first one, Neil Volz, continues to cooperate with prosecutors.
We’ll have the court documents up soon, but the AP has the basics of what he admitted to:
According to federal court documents filed Monday, Heaton’s conspiracy charge involves that trip and others. Prosecutors say he also helped Ney solicit and conceal gifts given by lobbyists.“Heaton and Ney solicited and accepted a stream of things of value from Abramoff and his lobbyists, including overseas and domestic trips, meals and drinks, golf, tickets to professional sporting events and concerts, and monetary and in-kind campaign contributions from Abramoff,” prosecutors wrote.
Heaton, who went to work for Ney in 2001 (ultimately succeeding Volz, who went off to join Abramoff), is 28 years old. More soon.
Update: Here is the “Information” filed by prosecutors, detailing the charges against Heaton.