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Friday Flashback: AP: DeLay and successor Blunt swapped donations between secretive groups
For Immediate Release: January 29, 2010 Contact: Ryan Hobart (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125 FRIDAY FLASHBACK AP: DeLay and successor Blunt swapped donations between secretive groups BONUS: 2005 American Family Voices and Public Campaign Action Fund ad highlighting DeLay and Blunt’s “Money Laundering” View the Ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgD5XZi6nYA Jefferson City, Mo. – In October of 2005, the Associated Press reported that Congressman Blunt and disgraced former Majority Leader Tom DeLay sent excess money raised for the 2000 presidential convention to their pet political causes and close allies, including former Governor Matt Blunt’s campaign and a company that hired Tom DeLay’s wife. The cash swapping even involved lobbyist and convicted felon Jack Abramoff. These actions also prompted an ad from American Family Voices and Public Campaign Action Fund that highlighted the “money laundering” committed by DeLay and Blunt. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgD5XZi6nYA) Here are some excerpts from the article: “Tom DeLay deliberately raised more money than he needed to throw parties at the 2000 presidential convention, then diverted some of the excess to longtime ally Roy Blunt — now occupying DeLay's former post as House Majority Leader — through a series of donations that benefited both men’s causes.” When the financial carousel stopped, DeLay’s private charity, the consulting firm that employed DeLay’s wife and the Missouri campaign of Blunt’s son all ended up with money, according to campaign documents reviewed by The Associated Press Jack Abramoff, a Washington lobbyist recently charged in an ongoing federal corruption and fraud investigation, and Jim Ellis, the DeLay fundraiser indicted with his boss last week in Texas, also came into the picture.” To read the AP article go to: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9604922/ns/politics/wid/6448213/page/2/ The Associated Press even created a chart to show how the money shuffling happened, without federal disclosure: Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate. --30--
