Senior aide to Rep. Ney subpoenaed

Three staff members leaving while investigation continues

30 Jun 2006 // Three top aides to embattled Rep. Bob Ney are leaving his office, and a federal grand jury has subpoenaed another senior staff member in an investigation of the Heath Republican's ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Matt Parker, who has served as district director for Ney's office in Ohio as well as an adviser to the re-election campaign, was ordered to turn over documents to federal prosecutors and testify before a grand jury in Washington.

Parker's subpoena was made public yesterday in an announcement on the House floor, as required when lawmakers or staff members receive subpoenas. Parker could not be reached for comment.

Also announced yesterday were the departures of Brian Walsh, a longtime Ney spokesman; Will Heaton, Ney's chief of staff; and Chris Otillio, a senior legislative aide.

Heaton was with Ney on a lavish 2002 golf trip to Scotland arranged by Abramoff. That trip is part of what federal prosecutors are examining in an investigation of Ney's ties to Abramoff.

The once-powerful lobbyist and three of his former associates, including former Ney chief of staff Neil Volz, have pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges and said that they bestowed gifts on Ney in return for legislative favors.

Ney has not been charged and says he is innocent.

In a statement, Ney said that turnover on Capitol Hill is high, and that all three departing staff members had worked for him longer than many others stay in similar jobs.

"Therefore, any suggestion or implication that the office of Ohio's 18th congressional district is operating at anything less than full speed ahead is baseless and without merit," Ney said.

Walsh said he has taken a job as communication director for Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, considered a step up from a House press secretary.

"While I am both excited and deeply honored to have this new opportunity, it was not a decision that was made lightly," Walsh, Ney's spokesman since late 2002, said in an e-mail announcing his move. "In light of the scrutiny that has surrounded this office in recent months, I thought it was important that (you) hear from me directly about this impending move."

Walsh said the departures were not coordinated or a sign that there is internal trouble in Ney's office. Already, the positions of legislative director and press secretary are filled, Walsh said.

The chief of staff job has not yet been filled. It was not known yesterday whether Heaton, who recently was married, is leaving to take a new job.

Ney's Democratic challenger, Dover law director Zack Space, seized on the latest news as evidence that Ney no longer can serve his district, which sprawls over eastern and southern Ohio. Space's campaign manager, Joe Shafer, said Space is reiterating his call on Ney to resign.

"How can Bob Ney be serving the people of the 18th District when the corruption investigation is closing in and his top aides are abandoning ship?" Shafer said in a written statement.

Some Ney supporters brushed aside the resignations and subpoena as inconsequential.

"I don't think it proves anything -- just being summoned doesn't prove anything," said Diane Carnes, chairwoman of the Ross County Republican Party. "I think there has been a lot of speculation and a lot of media running around with innuendo, but I think there's been a backlash because it doesn't prove anything."