Posted on 04/25/2006 8:36:59 AM PDT by americaprd
U.S. Rep. Curt Weldon called yesterday for Democratic opponent Joe Sestak to return $350 in campaign contributions from Mary O. McCarthy, the CIA investigator fired last week for allegedly leaking classified information to the news media.
Sestak's spokeswoman noted, in reply, that the CIA employee had not been charged with any crime and said she saw no reason for the money to be returned "at this time."
McCarthy, who worked at the National Security Council when Sestak worked there in the 1990s, donated $100 to Sestak on March 1 and $250 on March 11, according to a campaign finance report the Seventh Congressional District candidate filed with the Federal Election Commission.
Weldon, through a campaign spokesman, said he had joined other Republicans in Congress asking for an investigation into what classified information McCarthy may have disclosed to reporters. Agency officials linked her late last week to reports in the Washington Post disclosing the existence of classified CIA prisons in Eastern Europe and elsewhere.
Weldon "finds it very curious that the individual alleged to have disclosed the classified information ... shows up on his opponent's finance report."
Allison Price, Sestak's spokeswoman, said Weldon's call for Sestak to return the cash was "a typical Weldon smear."
Early this year, Weldon was among several members of Congress who were politically embarrassed to have received campaign contributions from Jack Abramoff after a scandal erupted dealing with Abramoff's actions as a lobbyist. Weldon said in January he gave to charity the $2,000 he had received directly or indirectly from Abramoff.
Also, their going to claim its okay because McCarthy has not been charged with anything? She lied on a lie detector test and only then admitted she leaked classified information. She's admitted to it!
Not only that, but Sestak's refused to return money from Sandy Berger and John Deutch, both of whom also mishandled classified infomation and in the case of Berger intentionally destryoed it.
Hopefully some freepers can write some letters to the Inquirer letting readers know what they think of Sestak taking her contributions, refusing to return them, and then hiding behind the fact that she hasn't been charged with anything (yet).
inquirer.letters@phillynews.com
Mary is quite the democrat contributor.
Ohio and now PA.
Another story from "The Hill" newspaper in DC.
State by State
Pennsylvania
Democrat Joe Sestak, a retired Navy admiral running against Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), is drawing fire for receiving campaign contributions from a CIA analyst dismissed last week for leaking classified information.
Weldon, who is facing a heated race, called on Sestak to return money from Mary McCarthy, the senior intelligence analyst who, according to reports, was dismissed for leaking classified information about overseas CIA prisons to The Washington Post. McCarthy contributed $350 to Sestak’s campaign.
Weldon also called on Sestak to return campaign contributions from former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, who pleaded guilty to illegally taking and destroying classified materials, and former CIA Director John Deutch, who admitted to mishandling highly classified intelligence documents. Berger contributed $1,000 to Sestak’s campaign, and Deutch gave $500.
“If he is truly concerned about national security, Joe Sestak should renounce the actions of these people and return their contributions to his campaign,” Weldon said in a statement.
“Admiral Sestak ensures that his campaign meets all Federal [Election] Commission guidelines, and we only know about Mary McCarthy what we have seen in the newspapers,” said Allison Price, Sestak’s campaign spokeswoman. McCarthy gave because she thought much needs to change in Congress, Price added.
“Joe is proud of the work that the Clinton administration did in the 1990s, and he is proud that he served with men like Berger and Deutch,” Price said. Sestak worked at the National Security Agency during his Pentagon career.
— Roxana Tiron
I can't help but wonder where Mary gets all of this excess cash that she so liberally sprinkles throughout the Dem. party campaigns...hmmm..inquiring minds and all that.
Go Weldon.
Time for a letter writing campaign to Phillynews.
How does a government employee living in the D.C. area get this kind of money?
Thanks for the clarification. We should ask the AP Style book to update the definition.
One has to wonder in Beers's so called no profit is using her and others to launder campaign money.
Sestak is getting contributions because Curt Weldon is on the verge of being able to bring ABLE DANGER out in the open!!! The list of donors to Sestak by the CABALISTS is unbelievable!! They are BLATANT!!
Interesting that both of these members of the Goober Gang* selected Weldon as a target. Did they give to the Democrat in every at-risk Pubbie district? Do they have some tie to Pennsylvania? Methinks they badly want Able Danger killed.
* "Goober Gang:" Bush-hating government operatives (Berger, MCCarthy, Plame, Joe Wilson, etc.) who find it plausible that an Iraqi atomic energy scientist was visiting uranium-rich Niger as part of an Iraqi trade mission not to inquire about purchasing uranium, but rather to procure a reliable supply of peanuts for the Baghdad Baseball League concession. Ninety-eight percent of journalists believe the Goober Gang to be motivated only by their passion for honesty, patriotism, and transparent governance.
The CIA is a government job and all government employees are paid very well. Thanks to American taxpayers.
That may be, but very few people are willing to giving $5,000 to a state party committee unless either:
a) the money is not actually theirs
b) they're getting something out of it
c) all of the above
Interesting, thanks!
Aha.
OK.
>>Mary is quite the democrat contributor.<<
That's what Bush got for leaving the Clintonites in at the CIA -- stabbed in the back by worthless t*rds like Mary McCarthy.
Bush's fault? Is that what you're saying?
Holy molie - has Aldrich Ames and Richard Hanson contributed to this guy as well? ;)
“Joe is proud of the work that the Clinton administration did in the 1990s, and he is proud that he served with men like Berger and Deutch..Convinces me he is NOT part of the solution, but a major part of the problem.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.