Mark Begich Returns Charles Rangel Campaign Contribution

Challenges Republicans to drop the double standard

U.S. Senate candidate Mark Begich today announced he is donating a $10,000 campaign contribution from Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) to charity. The move is in line with the Begich campaign's practice, and that of the McCain/Palin ticket, of donating contributions to charity from politicians who are facing ethical or criminal charges.

The McCain/Palin ticket has given away $5,000 from indicted Senator Ted Stevens.

Rep. Rangel is currently facing scrutiny over whether he has paid the proper federal taxes.

"Recognizing the importance of keeping corruption out of Alaska politics, our campaign is donating Rep. Rangel's contribution to a very worthy charity," said Julie Hasquet, Begich campaign press secretary. "The money from Rep. Rangel's political action committee was donated in June and we've since learned more about the allegations against him and realized it would be best to not keep the money."

Hasquet also noted the irony of an attack today from the Alaska Republican Party which is questioning Begich's ethics by accepting the donation. Rep. Rangel was named last week as one of the 20 most corrupt members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) along with Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young.

"How ironic that the Republican Party of Alaska would try to smear the reputation of Mark Begich as Republican Senator Stevens and Republican Representative Young are in the national spotlight for corruption," Hasquet said. "We're curious if the Alaska Republicans are sending out news releases across the country asking those people who have accepted money from Stevens and Young to return their contributions."

Sen. Stevens goes to trial next week on seven federal felony counts of illegally accepting gifts valued at more than $250,000 and failing to report those gifts as required by federal law and punishable by fines and jail time.

In addition to the McCain/Palin campaign, following the Stevens' indictment in July, more than a half dozen other Republican lawmakers returned Stevens' PAC money.

Hasquet said it's also relevant to remember that the Republican Party of Alaska gave nearly $35,000 of money donated by VECO employees to charity after Stevens was indicted. VECO is the oil services company Stevens is alleged to have received illegal gifts from in his indictment. VECO employees donated thousands of dollars to the Republican Party of Alaska from 1997 forward.

"We agree with the McCain/Palin campaign that it's important to keep a watchful eye on who donates to your campaign," Hasquet said. "The Republican Party of Alaska, meantime, is still endorsing and supporting the first sitting U.S. Senator to be indicted in 15 years."

The Begich campaign has donated the Rangel contribution to the Armed Services YMCA. The campaign's practice is to donate anonymous contributions and other monies it cannot accept to the Armed Services YMCA.

To view the 20 most corrupt members of Congress list, go to www.CREWsMostCorrupt.org.

From a Mark Begich press release