Posted on 02/22/2009 3:56:03 PM PST by Born Conservative
U.S. Reps. Paul E. Kanjorski and Chris Carney plan to wait before deciding whether to return thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from a firm that lobbies for defense contractors and is under investigation by the FBI.
Both congressmen said they won’t return the contributions now because no wrongdoing has been found in the case of the PMA Group. The FBI is investigating the group for funneling bogus campaign contributions to Rep. John Murtha and other lawmakers, according to The New York Times.
Mr. Kanjorski also said he won’t return a $2,500 contribution from an official of the Stanford Financial Group, which was accused Tuesday of $8 billion in fraud in a Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit.
No one has been charged with a crime in either case.
But Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida and Reps. Zoe Lofgren of California and Peter Visclosky of Indiana — all Democrats — have already announced they will refund all contributions from people who work for the PMA Group, according to The Times.
The FBI raided the PMA Group’s Virginia offices on Feb. 9, prompting the lobbying firm to shut down its political action committee. The PAC made almost $1.45 million in contributions to members of Congress since 1999, according to data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Since 1989, Mr. Kanjorski’s main political action committee has received $42,150 in contributions from PMA Group’s PAC or its employees — the 18th most of any member during that time, according to the center. That includes $9,900 in contributions from PMA employees to Mr. Kanjorski’s leadership PAC, Citizens for Action.
The same PAC or its employees contributed $41,500 to Mr. Carney’s PAC in the past two years alone, which were his first two years in Congress, according to the center. That includes $5,000 from the PMA PAC to his campaign committee.
On the Stanford case, Mr. Kanjorski noted company owner Robert Allen Stanford hasn’t been arrested, unlike investment banker Bernard Madoff, who was charged with criminal fraud recently for operating a $50 billion Ponzi scheme.
Mr. Kanjorski, the chairman of the House Capital Markets, Insurance and Government-Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee, hosted a hearing into how the SEC overlooked the Madoff case, despite being warned about Mr. Madoff’s actions.
He called any suggestion that he should refund contributions “premature,” despite the SEC suit.
Reminded that other members of Congress have returned contributions, Mr. Kanjorski didn’t budge.
“It makes a nice story,” he said. “If you want to cause me embarrassment, you do it.”
Rebecca Gale, Mr. Carney’s press secretary, issued a statement saying he might eventually donate contributions from PMA employees to charity.
Why don’t you do something useful for the nation instead of yourself you moron? What evidence to back up your “Sept 18, 2008” comments and WHO was (supposedly) drawing off funds?
http://grassrootspa.com/?p=21775
Watch what you say about this esteemed individual. After all, he IS good friends with Charlie Rangel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe0iDqPiGiw
Thanks for the link. More great videos in the scrolldown bar at the link about these con-men/crooks.
I’ve seen most of them. He’s been under the national radar for most years, but he’s just as crooked as the rest. Google “cornerstone kanjorski” to be enlightened about him taking care of his family with OUR money.
He's certainly been under my radar, until his Sept.18 comments. I need multiple decks of domestic enemies cards to keep up with these criminals. Thanks.
Thanks. I did. Disgusting.
When you get a chance, I’ve posted numerous threads on him throughout the years, including one that he was 5th amongst Democrats (7th overall) of campaign contributions from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Check some of them out. Keyword: kanjorski.
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