Posted on 01/07/2006 8:41:18 AM PST by UB355
Feingold campaign gives back $1,600 By STEVE SCHULTZE sschultze@journalsentinel.com Posted: Jan. 6, 2006
The campaign of Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) announced Friday it had returned four donations totaling $1,600 that Feingold had received from associates of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2002-'04.
Feingold wanted the money returned to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, said George Aldrich, Feingold's campaign manager. Aldrich said he was unaware of any connection between Abramoff and the donations to Feingold.
"That's always been the standard," Aldrich said. "If there's even any hint, we always err on the side of caution."
Abramoff pleaded guilty this week of defrauding Indian clients, conspiracy to bribe members of Congress and income tax evasion. Numerous congressmen, including Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), and President Bush have said their Abramoff-linked donations would be returned or given to charity.
Feingold returned $900 he received from Michael D. Smith, who worked at the Greenberg Traurig law firm when he made his donations to Feingold in 2002 and 2003. Abramoff also worked at the firm during that time. Feingold also returned $200 from Alexander Heckler of the firm and $500 from Greenberg Traurig's political action committee.
Neither Smith nor Heckler is listed on the Greenberg Traurig Web site as current employees.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee highlighted Abramoff-linked donations to dozens of Democratic senators, including Feingold, on its Web site
Why wasn't it turned in before this, or even refused?
It's honorable to return the cookies to the cookie jar only if you haven't been caught!
Funny how it's spun "to avoid the appearance of conflict". Any "conflict" would be done and dusted by now.
I look forward to this being covered by the MSM. Not.
Feingold wanted the money returned to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, said George Aldrich, Feingold's campaign manager. Aldrich said he was unaware of any connection between Abramoff and the donations to Feingold.
should read:
The campaign of Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) announced Friday it had returned an equivalent amount of money as had been accepted in four donations totaling $1,600 that Feingold had received from associates of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff in 2002-'04.
Feingold wanted the equivalent amount of money returned to avoid even the appearance of a conflict, said George Aldrich, Feingold's campaign manager. Aldrich said he was unaware of any connection between Abramoff and the donations to Feingold.
Who are the fools at the Milwaukee Journal writing and publishing this stuff? The entire crux of the Tom Delay prosecution in Texas is that corporate money raised in Texas was turned around in Washington and spent back in Texas. His arguably valid defense is that it was the same amount, but not the same funds because they never existed in the same account. Does the story about Feingold and the Abramoff money indicate that the checks were laying around unchashed? No - they were deposited long ago an entered the huge fungible pot of money that is Feingold's campaign fund. So to say that "Abramoff's money" was returned is absolutely idiotic.
The Author of campaign finance reform returns tainted campaign money. LOL
"Armed robber gives back loot, police drop charges."
LMAO ole russ is trying to be 'MR CLEAN'????? (holding sides and laughing hard) When PIGS fly!!!!
I believe the question is, "Why wasn't Russ el-Slimeroad mentioned in the Abramoff scandal before he returned the money?" Could it be because he's the Journtinel's dream candidate for President?
Seems to me the very idea that returning money gets you off the hook for being influenced by that particular donor, is an implicit admission that you can be influenced by donations.
Isn't that the truth!
What concerns me is just how many of the cookies they didn't get caught with, that they've been able to stash all this time.
Ya gotta ponder just how many of our congress-critters have that "honor" of carrying.
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