[JURIST] Former US Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) [Sourcewatch profile] reported to prison Thursday morning to begin serving his 30-month sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution [BOP backgrounder], a minimum-security prison in Morgantown, West Virginia. The district judge who presided over Ney's sentencing hearing [JURIST report] rejected Ney's claim that his alcohol dependency clouded his judgment, finding that it didn't fully explain his corrupt behavior or excuse violating laws he was "sworn to enforce and uphold. He will likely undergo rehabilitation for alcoholism as recommended by the judge at his sentencing hearing.

Ney pleaded guilty [plea agreement, PDF; JURIST report] last October to conspiracy and making false statements in relation to his dealings with lobbyist Jack Abramoff [JURIST news archive], from whom he received gifts and illegal campaign contributions. In response to the political corruption scandal, the Republican congressman in November resigned from the US House of Representatives. AP has more.