Simmons rebuffs latest Courtney demand for return of DeLay PAC's donations

[Judi Lynn]

Simmons rebuffs latest Courtney demand for return of DeLay PAC's donations

By Don Michak, Journal Inquirer October 04, 2005

The criminal indictments of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay have provided new campaign fodder for Joseph Courtney, the Vernon Democrat seeking a rematch against U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons. R-2nd District.

Courtney, who previously had demanded that Simmons return about $200,000 in campaign contributions the congressman had collected since 2000 from two political action committees linked to DeLay, charged today that DeLay's two indictments in Texas for conspiracy and money laundering leave Simmons "out of excuses" for not returning the money.

Courtney said the charges against the Republican leader "reaffirm that, by his close alliance with DeLay, Rob Simmons is sending a terrible message about ethical conduct and honest leadership to the people of eastern Connecticut."

"After repeated calls for him to return this money, we fully expect DeLay's criminal indictments will compel Rob Simmons to finally give it back," he added. "We've seen the impact of this kind of behavior in our own governor's office, and the people of Connecticut simply deserve better than to see our representative funded so generously by an ethically disgraced politician like Tom DeLay."

Courtney also cited a statement by U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., who told the Union Leader that he would return $15,000 in campaign contributions he had collected from Americans for a Republican Majority, DeLay's political action committee.
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