In light of the recent guilty pleas from GOP lobbyist Jack Abramoff, I think it is time once again to talk about Van Hilleary and his association with Abramoff.As our blog has been reporting for months now, Van Hilleary is simply unwilling to truthfully answer any questions regarding Jack Abramoff or the tribes connected to him.
Van continues to assert that he knows nothing of Abramoff or the tribes. However, I find it really hard to believe that Van doesn't know someone who has direct *$18K in donations his way.
It is time for Van to be honest and answer the following questions.
First, did he ever attend a fundraiser at the Signatures restaurant in Washington D.C.?
Second, did he ever accept any travel money from Abramoff while running for Governor or while in Congress.
Third, while in Congress did he try to help Abramoff in any way?
Fourth, did he meet with Abramoff and Co. ever to talk about legislation pending in Congress that could benefit him or his accomplices?
And fifth, was does he continually refuse to return the dirty Abramoff money?
Twenty-two Republicans, including leaders such as President Bush, Bill Frist, and Denny Hastert have all given back their money, so why doesn't Van?
It is time for Van to come clean now and return all the money he received from Jack Abramoff and his associates.
Say What? Wednesday's New York Times reported, "Jennifer Coxe, campaign manager for Mr. Hilleary’s current U.S. Senate bid, said the Senate campaign never received any money directly or indirectly from Jack Abramoff. She said both the congressional campaign funds and political action committees are closed, and it is impossible to return the money."
Oh really, Ms. Coxe?
Jack Abramoff has personally given $1,750 directly to Van Hilleary:
$250 from Jack Abramoff to Van Hilleary on 09/25/96
$1,000 from Jack Abramoff to Van Hilleary on 10/20/97
$250 from Jack Abramoff to Van Hilleary on 06/07/99
(Read more here)
Indian tribes associated with Jack Abramoff have given to $16,500 to Van Hilleary:
$5,000 from the Tigua Indian Reservation in Texas
$5,000 from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana
$4,000 from Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana ("The center also listed former Congressman Van Hilleary as receiving $4,000 from the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana") in the year 2000
$2,500 to the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana to the Van Hilleary Gubernatorial campaign (1)
(Read more here)
That comes out to be over *$18,000 in donations from Abramoff and his tribes.
Why can't the Hilleary camp just be honest and come clean?
Update: Blogging for Bryant takes Van Hilleary's 'ignorance' to task regarding his contributions from Jack Abramoff and his associates. Read more here!
Related: Read more about the Hilleary-Abramoff connection here!
