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3/3/2010

Disgrace: Hodes And Shaheen Won't Return Tainted Rangel Donations

CONCORD – The Union Leader (3/3) today reports that Congressman Paul Hodes and Senator Jeanne Shaheen have officially refused to return the tainted campaign contributions they received from disgraced Congressman Charles Rangel (D-NY). Numerous other Democrats – including Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter – have already returned their dirty Rangel money after he was admonished by the House Ethics Committee for breaking Congressional ethics rules.
 
“By refusing to return Charlie Rangel’s tainted contributions, Paul Hodes and Jeanne Shaheen have confirmed that they are both knee deep in the ethical cesspool created by years of Democrat control in Washington. Their unwillingness to dump Rangel’s dirty money is disgraceful and motivated either by reckless arrogance or sheer greed,” said NHGOP Communications Director Ryan Williams. “Paul Hodes and Jeanne Shaheen have demonstrated that their moral compasses have been broken because of their close association with the corrupt Washington politicians who have bankrolled their campaigns.”
 
Other Congressional Democrats have already dumped Rangel’s donations. Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (D-MA) announced this weekend that she will donate the $7,000 in contributions she received from Congressman Rangel to charity (Boston Herald, 2/28). Congressman Jim Himes (D-CT) also pledged to donate his Rangel contributions to charity (Stamford Advocate, 2/27). 

Rangel has made the following tainted donations to New Hampshire Democrats:
 
Senator Jeanne Shaheen: Received $10,000 in tainted donations from Rangel’s PAC during the 2008 election cycle. (OpenSecrets.org)
 
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter: Received $10,000 in tainted donations from Rangel during the 2008 election cycle. (OpenSecrets.org)
 
Congressman Paul Hodes: Received at least a total of $17,000 in tainted donations from Rangel. $11,000 since 2004 from Rangel’s PAC and at least another $6,000 from his campaign committee. (OpenSecrets.org)
 
Congressional Candidate Katrina Swett: Received $10,000 in tainted donations from Rangel’s PAC during the 2002 election cycle.