FERGUSON ACCEPTED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM CONVICTED FELON BOB NEY
Ferguson Refuses to Return Tainted Money

Scotch Plains, NJ -- Rep. Mike Ferguson has taken thousands of dollars from convicted felon Rep. Bob Ney and should immediately divest himself from those funds, said Linda Stender for Congress campaign manager Ed Oatman.

Rep. Bob Ney agreed on Friday to plead guilty to federal criminal charges that he made false statements and conspired to commit fraud and violate federal lobbying laws in the congressional corruption probe spawned by disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

Ferguson has accepted a total of $7,500 from the American Liberty PAC -- Ney's leadership PAC. According to FEC reports, in 2003 Ferguson accepted $2,500 from the Ney PAC. In 2004, he accepted $5,000 from the Ney PAC.Ney, (R-Ohio) who for months had defiantly denied any wrongdoing, said he was "very sorry for the pain" he has caused. The Justice Department said prosecutors will recommend that he serve 27 months in prison based on federal sentencing guidelines.

Oatman said Ferguson's financial ties to Ney and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay are reason enough for voters to vote him out of Congress.

"Mike Ferguson has been far too cozy with the likes of Bob Ney and Tom DeLay," said Oatman. "The people Mike Ferguson calls his friends seem to have a very disturbing ethical record in Congress. Not only does Mike Ferguson refuse to return the money Tom Delay has raised for him, but now we find out Mike has also accepted money from Bob Ney. Mike Ferguson should divest himself of all Ney campaign contributions he has accepted."

Mike Ferguson took $57,000 from indicted former Republican Leader Tom Delay -- more money than any other Republican in Congress. Ferguson refused to return the money and voted to cut Congressional ethics rules to protect Delay from prosecution ("DCCC Research, Delay Database;" H. Res. 5, Vote 6, 1/4/05; Washington Post, 1/5/05)

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