The Washington State Republican Party on Thursday called on U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., to give back or give away a campaign contribution he received in 2000 from Anthony Weiner, the disgraced New York congressman who resigned the same day.
And Inslee will — though he didn’t say it was be
cause the GOP officials asked him to do so.
“Jay plans to donate this decade-old contribution to Planned Parenthood,” said Joby Shimomura, his political adviser, in an email.
Republicans seized on the contribution to link Inslee, a likely candidate for governor, with Weiner, who resigned Thursday because of sexting exploits with several women including a college student from Seattle.
“Congressman Inslee needs to send back Weiner’s tainted money. He needs to send the message that what Weiner did was inappropriate,” said Peter Graves, executive director of the state party, in a press release.
Weiner made a $1,000 contribution to Inslee’s congressional campaign Oct. 12, 2000. It is the only donation the former New York representative gave Inslee, according to federal campaign finance reports posted online.
Inslee is also the only member of the current Washington congressional delegation to have received money from Weiner, according to Federal Election Commission records.
“There’s obviously a relationship there. Not everybody gets a donation from him,” said Josh Amato, the Republican Party’s communications director, in explaining why the public appeal was made.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
