Bidding Goodbye to Tainted Money - New York Times

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: December 2, 2005
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (AP) - Seeking to distance themselves from former Representative Randy Cunningham, some Congressional Republicans are donating to charity political money that he gave them over the years.

Mr. Cunningham, who pleaded guilty Monday to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering government work to military contractors, had given colleagues money from his campaign account and a political action committee he created.

Since his plea, more than a dozen Republican lawmakers and candidates have donated the money to charity or disclosed plans to do so.

Among them are Representatives Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Jim Nussle of Iowa, Richard W. Pombo of California and Heather A. Wilson of New Mexico and Senator John Thune of South Dakota.