Group To Ask Justice Department To Probe McCain's Bundlers

[babylonsister]

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/08/group_to_ask_justice_departmen.php

Group To Ask Justice Department To Probe McCain's Bundlers
By Greg Sargent - August 8, 2008, 4:22PM


This is interesting: A good government group is set to ask the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the two big McCain stories of recent days -- the bundled contributions from Hess executives, and the bundling by Harry Sargeant, the guy who raised cash for McCain from a host of unlikely donors.

The request, which will be made on Monday by Campaign Money Watch, which first flagged the Hess story to us, raises at least the possibility that such a probe could be initiated during the campaign. Barring that, it could keep the stories going in the press a bit.

David Donnelly of Campaign Money Watch confirms to me that they'll make the formal request on Monday, and MoveOn also is demanding a Federal probe in an email that just went out to supporters. Donnelly says that his group's request is being triggered by McCain's letter to the donors whose contributions had been bundled by Sargeant.

Donnelly said that the letter, which advised the donors of the legal ins-and-outs of such contributions, didn't go far enough in trying to determine what had happened.

"What he didn't say was, `Tell us who was responsible for giving you money to give to me, and we'll urge the authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,'" Donnelly said. "The letter raises the question, 'Is the McCain campaign covering for his bundlers?'"

Asked why Sargeant, whose company holds a huge contract to deliver fuel to military bases in Iraq, merited an investigation, Donnelly said: "An executive from a company that has a billion dollar contract to deliver oil to U.S. bases in Iraq possibly violated election law to funnel contributions to McCain. We think that warrants an investigation."

And on the Hess matter, Donnelly said: "An office manager for an oil company that stands to gain millions in profits from offshore drillingmakes donations for the first time this cycle to McCain, and did it at the same time nine other Hess donors do. That's worth an investigation."

Stay tuned for the next installment.

[hisownpetard]

1. I read the last 2 words in the headline as "McCain's Blunders" which could serve just a well. nt