Bush to relinquish $6,000 linked to fallen lobbyist

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, January 4, 2006

WASHINGTON – Republican Party officials said Wednesday that President Bush will give up $6,000 in campaign contributions connected to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, joining an expansive list of politicians who have shed more than half a million dollars in tainted campaign cash.

The announcement came as Abramoff pleaded guilty in a second criminal case, acknowledging that he conspired to defraud lenders in the purchase of a fleet of Florida casino boats five years ago. The court appearance in Miami came a day after Abramoff pleaded guilty before a federal judge in Washington to defrauding Indian tribal clients of millions of dollars, conspiring to bribe members of Congress and evading taxes.

Under plea agreements negotiated in the two federal cases, the once powerful lobbyist promised to provide evidence and testimony in a wide-ranging Justice Department corruption probe into lobbying of Congress and federal agencies.

At least 24 politicians have now pledged to relinquish $515,199 in Abramoff-tainted campaign cash, including some of the most powerful Republicans in Washington, D.C. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., will give up at least $60,000. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Texas, the former House majority leader, has pledged to donate $57,000 in Abramoff-linked contributions to charity. And acting House Majority Leader Roy Blunt, R-Mo., plans to shed the $8,500 that Abramoff and his wife donated to his political action committee.

The half-million in pledged refunds is a fraction of the $5.3 million that Abramoff, some of his lobbyist colleagues and tribal clients showered on 364 federal candidates and campaign committees between 1999 and 2004.