Will Dems Return Embattled Congressman Weiner’s Tainted Cash?

June 7, 2011

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: Betty Sutton (OH-13), Bill Owens (NY-23), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Ed Perlmutter (CO-07), Tim Holden (PA-17), John Barrow (GA-12), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Jim Himes (CT-04), Joe Donnelly (IL-02), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), David Loebsack (IA-02), Mark Critz (PA-12), Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Gary Peters (MI-09), Rush Holt (NJ-12), Russ Carnahan (MO-03), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Tim Walz (MN-01)

Will Walz Return Embattled Congressman Weiner’s Tainted Cash?

Minnesota Democrat Has Received Large Donations From Anthony Weiner as Ethics Probe Looms

Washington — As Congressman Anthony Weiner finds himself embroiled in scandal after potentially breaking House rules when he sent explicit photos of himself to supporters, it remains to be seen whether Tim Walz would return the ethically troubled Congressman’s donations from over the years. With prominent Democrat leaders already calling for ethics investigations against Weiner, will Walz decisively condemn Weiner’s outrageous behavior and return the campaign contributions?

“Tim Walz now faces a choice between returning the scandal-tainted donations he has received from Congressman Weiner or silently condoning his colleague’s lewd and bizarre behavior that could lead to a potential ethics violation,” said NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay. “It comes down to whether Walz is willing to put the needs of his Minnesota constituents ahead of his Washington Democrat allies and his own political coffers.”

Congressman Anthony Weiner became embroiled in scandal, and is now subject to a House ethics investigation:

“House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Steve Israel, the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, are calling for an investigation into Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) over the series of sexually explicit conservations and lewd photos he exchanged with a half-dozen women during the last several years.”

“The calls by Pelosi and Israel for an ethics investigation dramatically raise the political stakes for Weiner. While he stated repeatedly during an emotional press conference on Monday that he had broken no laws nor violated House ethics rules during his interaction with the women, a probe by the House Ethics Committee could find differently.” (John Brensnahan, “Nancy Pelosi calls for Anthony Weiner ethics inquiry,” Politico, 6/6/11)

Tim Walz has received $3,000 from Congressman Weiner in the past. (FEC.gov, Accessed 6/7/2011)

As Tim Walz’s colleague finds himself the subject of a House ethics inquiry, it remains to be seen whether Walz will return Weiner’s donations. In order to best serve his Minnesota constituents, Walz should immediately return these donations from Weiner in order to end the distractions from the issues that matter most.

Will Dems Return Embattled Congressman Weiner’s Tainted Cash? http://ow.ly/5bXwq #madeinwdc

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