Grand Old Police Blotter: Ney'll Bob's Ass To The Prison Door Edition

Of the many things that 9/11 didn't change, rampant Republican criminality is the most unchanged:

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 -- Representative Bob Ney, Republican of Ohio, has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges related to his dealings with the corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff, lawyers and others with knowledge of the investigation said Thursday.

A guilty plea would make Mr. Ney, a six-term congressman, the first member of Congress to admit to criminal charges in the Abramoff investigation, which has focused on the actions of several current and former Republican lawmakers who had been close to the former lobbyist.

People with detailed knowledge of the investigation said Mr. Ney had entered an in-patient rehabilitation center in recent days for treatment of alcoholism, making it uncertain whether he would appear at a court hearing to announce the plea. Lawyers and others would speak only anonymously because of concern that they would anger prosecutors.

They said the agreement with the Justice Department -- and the exact criminal charges, which are expected to include conspiracy and false statement -- would be disclosed in Washington as soon as Friday and would probably require Mr. Ney to serve at least some time in prison.

"Some time in prison" for accepting bribes and selling votes. Well, I guess 20 years is some time.

We can hope.

Now let's kick back and watch the parade of G.O.P. apologists coddle the criminal class.

Care for some some Incarceration Fries?