Congressman Harold Ford Jr. today called on Van Hilleary, Ed Bryant and Bob Corker "to give to charity any and all contributions they have ever received from corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his associates."“Van Hilleary, Bob Corker and Ed Bryant should disclose what Jack Abramoff and his associates gave them over the years and they should donate that money to a charity of their choice immediately,” Ford said. “In recent days, President Bush, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Tom Delay and other senior members of Congress have either returned or donated Jack Abramoff’s corrupt money to charity. Van Hilleary, Bob Corker and Ed Bryant should do the same thing.”
He said Abramoff "is the center of the one of the most egregious lobbying scandal ever. Earlier this week he pleaded guilty to fraud, conspiracy to bribe public officials and tax evasion."
The Ford campaign listed these Abramoff contributions to the Hilleary campaign:
Hilleary’s $18,250 in contributions:
$ 14,000 (From Abramoff connected tribes to Hilleary's federal committees)
$5,000 to the Van Hilleary PAC from the Tigua Indian Reservation in Texas
$5,000 to the Van Hilleary PAC from the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana$4,000 in 2000 from Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana to Van Hilleary
(Source: The Center for Responsive Politics, Capital Eye Report)
$ 2,500 (From Abramoff connected tribes to Hilleary's non-federal committees)
$2,500 to the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana to the Van Hilleary for Governor Exploratory Committee
(Source: National Institute for Money in State Politics)
$ 1,750 (From Abramoff personally)
Van Hilleary for Congress – Sept. 25, 1996: $250
Van Hilleary for Congress – Oct. 20, 1997: $1,000
Van Hilleary for Congress – June 7, 1999: $500
(Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press, 01/04/06)
Update: Read more about Van Hilleary's refusal to return any of the dirty money he received from Jack Abramoff or his associates. (1, 2)
