"Sen. Maria Cantwell responded to the growing scandal involving lobbyist Jack Abramoff by announcing Friday that she will donate nearly $18,000 in campaign contributions to an American Indian charity.
Cantwell, a Democrat who is seeking re-election this year, had said Wednesday that she would not return contributions from out-of-state Indian tribes represented by Abramoff, who pleaded guilty this week to fraud, conspiracy and tax evasion in a wide-ranging political corruption investigation.
But on Friday, Cantwell's campaign said she had decided to give money to the National Congress of American Indians Education Fund to clear up any confusion caused by media reports about donations related to Abramoff.
Cantwell "has never taken a penny from confessed criminal Jack Abramoff," her campaign said in a statement, but after reflection decided it was appropriate make the charitable contribution.
Cantwell wanted "to err on the side of caution, so there would not even be a whiff of a connection between his illegal, confessed activities and our campaign," spokesman Michael Meehan said Friday.
The amount being returned, $17,865, includes any funds from organizations or individuals that have ever been connected to Abramoff based on media reports, Meehan said.-from the AP story.
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