Reid to keep donations from Abramoff clients

[NVMojo]

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has no plans to return about $61,000 in political donations from clients of Jack Abramoff, the super lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy charges.

Many lawmakers are rushing to return or donate money received from Abramoff or his clients as the lobbying scandal grows in Washington. The Republican lobbyist entered his plea Tuesday and is expected to cooperate in a Justice Department investigation that could involve members of Congress and their staffs.

"He's done nothing wrong and sees no reason why he would need to donate it," said Tessa Hafen, spokesman for Reid, D-Nev.

U.S. Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev. -- who received about $10,000 from Abramoff and an Indian tribe that was his client -- donated the money, spokesman Jack Finn said. He said Ensign sent the money to the Nevada Patriot Fund, which gives money to families of people killed or wounded in Iraq.

Among the donations to Reid was a $5,000 contribution from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana, an Abramoff client that was trying to block the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians from opening a nearby casino. The donation was made to Reid's political action committee, the Searchlight Leadership Fund and was one of 61 checks the tribe wrote to lawmakers and their political action committees that totaled $333,000 on one day, according to PoliticalMoneyLine.com, a campaign finance watchdog group.

more...

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060105/NEWS10/601050358/1002/NEWS

[Demit]

1. I like Reid & Ensign's straightforward, commonsensical response--

"Reid and Ensign said they have opposed the expansion of Indian gambling for years because it competes with Nevada's largest industry. Last month, they sent a letter to the Senate Ethics Committee asking it to review their conduct.

"Each of us has a long record of opposing the type of expansion of Indian gaming proposed by the Jena Band," the senators said in their letter. "Our opposition to the Jena compact was motivated by the policy considerations described above and was not motivated by campaign donations." "


They're both on the record for already having a position on gambling: to protect their states's biggest industry. That "Dems are involved too" dog won't spin.

[NVMojo]

6. And it is very true, they both have not been supportive of Indian gaming

as gaming is what feeds alot of Nevadans. And I believe Ensign has some casino $$$ in his family too.

[Nordmadr]

2. This seems real smart to me as long as he is clean in the dealings.

It seems to indicate he has nothing to hide, and he accepted those donations legitmately. Look all you want, you won't find any impropriety.

Olafr

[hedda_foil]

3. Sorry, Harry. This is really incredibly stupid.

Even the sleazy R's have decided to dump this glaring appearance of impropriety. It doesn't matter how clean you are if you act above it all like this.

[Lochloosa]

4. I disagree completely

If the funds were given legally he should keep them. IMO, the repugs falling all over each other sends the signal that something is up. No one is fooled.

[drm604]

5. That article's certainly not slanted.

That article's certainly not slanted. No siree, not slanted at all. :sarcasm:

It's worded exactly right so as to not literally lie, but cause confusion in people's minds about where Reid's donations came from. :grr: