Grassley to keep Abramoff contribution
Posted: Thursday, January 05, 2006
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has no plans to give away a campaign contribution from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, despite similar actions by other Republicans, including President Bush, a spokeswoman said Wednesday.
"Senator Grassley has said he takes contributions that are legal and have no strings attached. That's what these were," said Beth Pellet Levine, a Grassley aide.
Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal fraud and corruption charges, agreeing to aid an FBI investigation into influence peddling.
His conduct was described in court papers as "a stream of things of value to public officials in exchange for a series of official acts and influence."
A string of high-profile Republicans -- including Bush, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri and House Speaker Dennis Hastert -- announced they were returning campaign contributions from Abramoff or his clients. Iowa Rep. Jim Nussle's office said Wednesday night that he will give to charities $6,000 he received from Indian tribes represented by Abramoff's law firm.
According to Federal Elections Commission documents, Grassley received a $1,000 campaign contribution from Abramoff in March 2003.
Abramoff also gave $5,000 to the Hawkeye PAC, which Grassley uses to raise money for other House and Senate candidates.
The Meskwaki, Choctaw and Saginaw Chippewa tribes gave $13,000. Another $3,500 came from co-workers at Abramoff's lobbying firm.
Recipients of Hawkeye PAC funds included Reps. Nussle, Tom Latham and Steve King, who got $10,000 each in 2004.
Des Moines lawyer Stan Thompson, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, for a second time in 2004, received $15,000 from the PAC.
"Senator Grassley has said he takes contributions that are legal and have no strings attached. That's what these were," said Beth Pellet Levine, a Grassley aide.
Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal fraud and corruption charges, agreeing to aid an FBI investigation into influence peddling.
His conduct was described in court papers as "a stream of things of value to public officials in exchange for a series of official acts and influence."
A string of high-profile Republicans -- including Bush, Rep. Roy Blunt of Missouri and House Speaker Dennis Hastert -- announced they were returning campaign contributions from Abramoff or his clients. Iowa Rep. Jim Nussle's office said Wednesday night that he will give to charities $6,000 he received from Indian tribes represented by Abramoff's law firm.
According to Federal Elections Commission documents, Grassley received a $1,000 campaign contribution from Abramoff in March 2003.
Abramoff also gave $5,000 to the Hawkeye PAC, which Grassley uses to raise money for other House and Senate candidates.
The Meskwaki, Choctaw and Saginaw Chippewa tribes gave $13,000. Another $3,500 came from co-workers at Abramoff's lobbying firm.
Recipients of Hawkeye PAC funds included Reps. Nussle, Tom Latham and Steve King, who got $10,000 each in 2004.
Des Moines lawyer Stan Thompson, who unsuccessfully challenged Rep. Leonard Boswell, D-Iowa, for a second time in 2004, received $15,000 from the PAC.
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