Former Majority Leader Tom DeLay has refused to state that he'll return over $30,000 in campaign contributions from several of Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham's (R-CA) co-conspirators. Cunningham, who resigned on Monday after admitting guilt in a $2.4 million conspiracy and tax evasion scandal involving defense contractors who lined his pockets in return for special treatment in D.C, named four co-conspirators, a few of whom have been large DeLay donors.
Speaking on behalf of DeLay, Jim Ellis, the indicted head of DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC (ARMPAC), when asked by The Hill newspaper, refused to say that DeLay would return the dirty money.
DeLay's Democratic challenger in his Texas District 22, Nick Lampson, said "It seems like every week someone connected to Tom DeLay is indicted or pleads guilty to corruption or bribery. Southeast Texans are getting tired of the same old tune from Tom DeLay and his cronies. We need someone who can spend their time making decisions on how this country can work to cut our record deficits and trade gap and keep our borders secure rather than spending time deciding whether or not to return funds from criminals and cronies."
DeLay himself has recently been indicted on conspiracy and for illegal campaign finance schemes. He has a 51% disapproval rating, and 42% of Texas voters think he should resign from Congress.
"It's just amazing," said Lampson. "You have the indicted head of Tom DeLay's PAC refusing on behalf of indicted Tom DeLay to return tens of thousands of dollars in tainted money from people named as co-conspirators in a bribery plea agreement. You couldn't make this stuff up if you wanted to. It sends a terrible message to Southeast Texans and shows once again that whoever Tom Delay is working for, it isn't them."
Others lawmakers facing similar scrutiny for funds donated by scandal-plagued lawmakers and lobbyists have given back money. These include Sen. Jim Talent (R-Mo), who returned contributions received from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff; and Rep. Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R-Mo), Rep. Heather Wilson (R-NM) and Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH), all of whom returned money given by DeLay after he was indicted in September.
3 comments:
Other lawmakers have returned contributions given by DeLay. DeLay refuses to return donations to Cunningham. It's obvious - DeLay is hoping to accumulate a large defence fund...
I'm not surprised he won't give the money back. His pac doesn't admit any errors. I think about half the country either didn't know or didn't care that the delay grab for illegal redistricting was even happening - and the half that did know and care couldn't get the news across to the others. Obvously, this kind of bullying hurts everyone in the US. But, how can that point be made effectively? it seems like maybe we all have to be shoved up against the wall before we'll unite to use what we have been given, i.e. the ability and the responsibility to understand the power of the US constitution. our leadership has folded under the seduction of win at all costs mentality. When the group (doj) who are charged with advising the leadership are subverted and ignored, (and the people who are being affected, i.e. the citizens) don't know or care, what's the use in even pretending the system still works? US voters, yes even Texas voters have to muster the energy and the will and the intelligence to care and to act. The delays, the diebolds, and the politicized christian right wing may win again and again. They may, although it angers me to admit it, continue to manipulate us and victimize us. Unless people who supported bush and pals because they thought republicans would truly be honorable and fiscally responsible change their minds and get with the progressives, we'll still be victims in 06.
THANK YOU MR. PRESIDENT ..AND THE GOP...THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!!
http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=19945
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
The "Real" RIGHT WING AGENDA
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