Suddenly, all the Republicans are returning Abramoff money. Has Bush?

[ProSense]

Rehberg joins Burns in refunding money from Abramoff
By JENNIFER McKEE Missoulian State Bureau


HELENA - U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., on Friday returned $19,900 in campaign donations from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his tribal clients and associates, while Democrat Sen. Max Baucus had not yet decided if he would return his Abramoff-related $6,000.

The executive director of the Montana Republican Party said the GOP would return any Abramoff-related donations, but wasn't aware that it had any.

Meanwhile, the executive director of the Montana Democratic Party said he was unsure if the group would return a $5,000 Abramoff-related donation federal records show the group received in 2002.

The announcements came a day after Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said he was returning $150,000 in donations amid allegations that Burns allegedly performed congressional favors for Abramoff clients.

more...

http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2005/12/17/news/mtregional/news04.txt

[Dissent Is Patriotic]

1. I am not a lawyer but

if I steal a Tv from let's say Macy's, and then return it when someone tells me I will be suffering for the rest of my life because of it, should I not then be punished? Are these guys off the hook because they are now returning the money after the fact? Where is the so called moral majority screaming about how immoral this all is?

[Uben]

2. Bush isn't running for anything

He won't be giving back a dime. He's a crook and he got that money the old fashioned way........someone stole it for him!

[Vinca]

3. I think I recall reading somewhere that he did return some money.

It's warped Republican logic. You take the illegal cash and when you get caught you return it and hope nobody noticed.

[ProSense]

4. I haven't seen that anywhere, but here's a good scandal refresher

Culture of Corruption Grows: Sixth Bush Fundraiser In Trouble, Says Democratic National Committee

8/11/2005 5:21:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Karen Finney of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Today, the Associated Press reported that newly elected Republican National Committee Treasurer Robert Kjellander was subpoenaed by a federal investigator probing his involvement in steering Illinois teacher pension fund investments to the Carlyle Group. Kjellander also reportedly accepted more than $4 million in fees for his work on behalf of the Carlyle Group. (AP, 8/11/05)

snip...

A SIXTH BUSH PIONEER UNDER INVESTIGATION: MORE THAN ENOUGH FOR A BASKETBALL TEAM

Robert Kjellander is the newly elected Treasurer of the RNC. He is a former Bush Pioneer and ran three states for Bush's reelection campaign. He is also currently involved in a Federal corruption investigation involving his effort to secure the business of an Illinois pension fund for the Carlyle Group. Kjellander marks the SIXTH Bush Pioneer or Ranger to be named in a Federal corruption investigation. We could call on Bush to return the money, but he's already proved he doesn't care where the money comes from.

Republicans Received Over $2.5 Million in Campaign Donations From Donors Under Federal Investigations Since 2000. According to FEC filings, Republican candidates and the Republican Party have received $2,567,775 from individuals who are currently involved in federal investigations. These individuals include Sam and Charles Wyly (tax evasion), Thomas Noe (illegal campaign donations), Ralph Reed (corrupt lobbying practices), Jack Abramoff (corrupt lobbying practices), and Robert Kjellander (investment compensation). (http://www.opensecrets.org; Tray.com; Fec.com)

THE ORIGINAL FIVE

Wyly Brothers Involved in a State and Federal Tax Investigation. According to news reports, Sam and Charles Wyly, better known as the "Wyly Brothers", are under investigation for tax evasion. In early 2005 Michaels Stores Inc. revealed that the SEC and the New York County District Attorney were investigating the stock transactions of Charles and Sam Wyly, the company's President and Vice-President. The billionaire Bush patrons are accused of setting up offshore trusts on the Isle of Man, a noted tax shelter in the Irish Sea, in an attempt to evade paying taxes on stock options. (Dallas Morning News, 6/4/05)

Republican Chairman Under at Least Six Separate Investigations. Noe was tapped by the Voinovich Administration to manage a portion of the Ohio Workers' Compensation Bureau's pension funds. "He also happened to be a dealer in rare coins. And in 1998, the Ohio Workers' Compensation Bureau agreed to invest in a rare-coin fund that he controlled as a way to hedge its holdings in stocks and bonds, an investment that experts have called highly unorthodox.... Mr. Noe's lawyers said that as much as $13 million of the state's $50 million investment in his two funds could not be accounted for. Mr. Noe, meanwhile, has become the focus of at least six investigations or audits involving either his handling of the coin investments or his campaign fundraising. Federal investigators are also looking into his contributions to President Bush's 2004 campaign as a 'Pioneer,' raising more than $100,000." (New York Times, 5/28/05, emphasis added)


http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=51624

[Vinca]

8. I could be mistaken. There are so many scandals it's all a blur. nt

[Skidmore]

5. $150,000....nice round sum.

[Divernan]

6. It's the GOP's special way of donating to Abramoff's defense fund.

One hopes that Abramoff will be be ordered to return fees to the Indian clients he swindled - preferably by working at a minimum wage job for the rest of his miserable life.

[ProSense]

7. Here's a case of the crook calling the thief a criminal.

Ralph Reed Regrets Taking Abramoff Money Fri Dec 16, 2:19 PM ET

ATLANTA - Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed says he regrets funding an antigambling campaign with money from indicted Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff's casino-owning clients.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051216/ap_on_go_ot/reed_lobbyist_1

[demgrrrll]

9. Regrets, I've had a few, enough to fill the library of Connnnngress......

but more, much more than this I did it myyyyyyyyy way.
Reed is such a putz.