Fund-Raiser Admits Funneling Money to Bush Campaign

[Generic Other]

Fund-Raiser Admits Funneling Money to Bush Campaign
Reuters
Wednesday 31 May 2006

Toledo, Ohio - A top Republican fund-raiser who is the leading figure in an Ohio political scandal pleaded guilty on Wednesday to illegally funneling money to President George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.

In an appearance in federal court, rare coin dealer Tom Noe admitted to three counts of violating campaign finance laws.

He wrote checks to two dozen Republican supporters so they could attend a $2,000-a-plate Bush fund-raising dinner held in the state capital of Columbus on October 30, 2003.

Noe's scheme netted $45,400 for the Bush campaign and he became a top fund-raiser for the party in Ohio, raising more than $100,000 for Bush and other Republicans. Bush beat Democrat John Kerry in Ohio by 118,000 votes, a victory that was pivotal to his reelection.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/060106Z.shtml

[roseBudd]

1. this is the epitome of election fraud

[cmd]

2. GOP adopts wait-and-see approach to tainted funds

http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/SRRARECOINS/306010013


Tom Noe's admission in federal court yesterday that he funneled thousands of dollars into the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign wasn't enough to prompt President Bush to immediately return the illegal money.

Instead, Mr. Bush and his political advisers are taking a wait-and-see approach.
"We have and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation," said Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee. "We will make appropriate transfers as directed by the court."
A spokesman for the White House did not return a phone call seeking comment.
The Democratic National Committee questioned why it would take a court order for the White House to act.

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