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January 6, 2006Camp and committee got $35K from tribesCongressman says he'll donate Abramoff money to charity
Camp
Camp, R-Midland, whose district includes Grand Traverse, Leelanau, and Kalkaska counties, also is the lone member of Michigan's delegation to receive a direct contribution from Abramoff. Federal prosecutors said Abramoff and former partner Michael Scanlon conspired to defraud American Indian tribes in Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Texas of millions of dollars. Camp said Thursday he will donate $500 he received from Abramoff in 2001 to charity. "What (Abramoff) has done is a disgrace and a disservice," Camp said. "But to paint every single person with the same broad brush through guilt by association is not right." Camp said he doesn't know Abramoff, hasn't met with him and didn't know he had received a contribution from him until asked by a reporter. In two days since Abramoff pleaded guilty Tuesday in Washington to three federal felonies, more than 40 elected federal officials relinquished Abramoff donations, joining a dozen who did so last year. Data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization, shows that Abramoff's tribal clients gave to Democrats and Republicans alike but his personal donations went strictly to Republicans. The Republican scramble to shed cash that once was eagerly sought underscored the potential political problem the party faces in this election year. Camp said Abramoff's donation was small and he doesn't expect it will hurt his chances to win re-election later this year. "I haven't been to Scotland, I haven't been to the Super Bowl or in his skyboxes, so I don't think my name will end up on any of these other lists," Camp said, referring to trips and other perks arranged by Abramoff for some members of Congress. When federal investigations are complete and the full extent of the corruption is known, Congress must consider reform, Camp said. "The system works because (Abramoff) has been brought to justice, but we need to make sure this doesn't happen again," he said. Camp proposes more disclosure of lobbyist activities and strict limits on what they can do. While some prominent Republicans, including President George W. Bush, are donating tribal contributions to charity, Camp said he will not return any tribal donations. "I'm proud of the work I've done on behalf of Native American issues," said Camp, a vice-chairman of the Native American Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since 1999, Camp received $20,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, based in his home district. Of that amount, $5,000 came before the tribe retained Abramoff. Camp also received contributions from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and the Tigua Indian Reservation. All four tribes were Abramoff clients. Camp's campaign fund raised $376,776 in the first nine months of 2005, and he has more than $1 million cash on hand. Democratic members of Michigan's congressional delegation said they too will retain their tribal donations. The Center for Responsive Politics said Rep. Dale Kildee, D-Flint, received $19,000 from Abramoff's tribal clients. Sen. Carl Levin received $2,000 from the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe and Sen. Debbie Stabenow received $5,000(*) from tribal clients. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Clearing the Record
Because of a reporter’s error, this story originally reported the wrong amount of money contributed to U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s campaign committee by tribal interests connected to lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Stabenow received $5,000 between 2000 and 2005.
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