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While he has a credible defense -- a combination of selective prosecution and sufficient, if not total disclosure -- his father and the Republican Party may wish he had cut a deal and signed the cease-and-desist order when the OTS was willing. With all the publicity surrounding young Bush, the FDIC may feel pressure to push its suit to partially recover from the directors and officers of Silverado the $1 billion loss to taxpayers. On Friday Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee asked the Justice Department to appoint a special prosecutor to handle the Silverado case; but at least one of the members, Edward F. Feighan of Ohio, abruptly withdrew from the effort after G.O.P. leaders threatened to seek the appointment of another special prosecutor to investigate the actions of former Democratic leaders.
Even if Neil Bush eventually clears his name, he will be crushed by legal fees. After his sobering week, there remained an air of unreality about him. As he boasted of getting down to fighting weight, he pondered a new and ironic goal: running for Congress.