A federal jury Monday convicted Washington lobbyist Kevin A. Ring on five of eight counts related to the Jack Abramoff bribery and influence-peddling scandal, handing a victory to the Justice Department unit charged with fighting corruption in government.
After a two-week trial and three days of deliberation, the District panel of eight men and four women found Ring guilty on charges of conspiracy, fraud and illegal gratuities related to his work with disgraced lobbyist Abramoff and his former boss and congressman, John T. Doolittle (R-Calif.).
The jury acquitted Ring, of Kensington, on three counts of fraud in his dealings with John C. Albaugh, chief of staff to former Rep. Ernest Istook (R-Okla.), who recanted his testimony against Ring shortly before trial.
"Another member of 'Team Abramoff' has been held accountable for his actions," Mythili Raman, a senior official for the Justice Department's criminal division, said in a statement. "We are committed to bringing to justice those who seek to corrupt our democratic process."
TVNL Comment: Abramoff served a couple of years and was freed. Others serve years for possession of marijuana. There is no justice.
The House voted Tuesday to end a nearly four-day partial government shutdown, approving spending through September...
