Ring Found Guilty of 5 Counts in Bribery Case (Abramoff associate)

Source: Associated Press

Ring Found Guilty of 5 Counts in Bribery Case
Abramoff associate convicted of 5 counts in corruption case, not guilty of 3 in retrial
By NEDRA PICKLER Associated Press
WASHINGTON November 15, 2010 (AP)

An associate of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff who tried to beat corruption charges by arguing he was only doing Washington business as usual was convicted Monday of bribing public officials with meals and tickets.

Kevin Ring was found guilty of five felony counts and not guilty on three others in a second trial, after a first jury could not agree on a verdict last year.

Ring was the only lobbyist among the crew that became notorious as "Team Abramoff" during a sweeping investigation who fought criminal charges against him in court. Abramoff and five others pleaded guilty in deals with prosecutors.

Twenty people have been convicted in the investigation, including 11 congressional aides and officials from the Bush administration that Team Abramoff tried to influence. Former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, served prison time for taking bribes from Abramoff, including a lavish golfing trip to Scotland. One former Capitol Hill aide is awaiting trial.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12154359

is to what degree was Abramoff the exception rather than the rule? And to what degree was his getting caught the exception rather than the rule? I really don't know.

I do know that we need public financing of campaigns.

I also have a silly idea that has been kicking around in my head that salaries for senators and congressmen should be raised dramtically.. in exchange their offices and all of the capitol need to be wired for audio and video and they are only allowed to discuss business inside the capitol.

:hi:

and he really does deserve to go to jail.