WASHINGTON (AP) - A member of the Republican leadership added his name to the list of GOP lawmakers calling for Rep. Bob Ney to resign. When reporters asked some GOP leaders Wednesday whether Ney should resign, House Rules Committee Chairman David Dreier, R-Calif., responded, "Absolutely."
Last week, Ney admitted improperly accepting trips, meals, sports tickets and casino chips while trying to win favors for a disgraced Washington lobbyist and a foreign aviation company. The six-term lawmaker remains in a rehabilitation center for treatment of alcohol abuse, a problem he disclosed when his agreement to plead guilty was announced Friday.
Ohio state Sen. Joy Padgett, who was hand-picked by Ney to run to replace him, called on the House to move as soon as possible to expel Ney from Congress if he doesn't resign immediately. The House can expel a member with a two-thirds majority vote.
Other Republicans calling for Ney to resign include fellow Ohioans Steve Chabot, Deborah Pryce, Ralph Regula and Pat Tiberi. House Majority Leader John Boehner has said the decision of whether to resign is entirely up to Ney and his family.
Pryce repeated her call for Ney's resignation.
"It's a tragedy this happened to his family, but he has betrayed the trust of his constituents," she said.
Ney lawyer William Lawler said Ney still had no plans to resign.
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Associated Press Writer Mary Dalrymple contributed to this report.
