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Boozman will keep DeLay funds Saturday, Oct 1, 2005 By Alison Vekshin Stephens Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Rep. John Boozman, R-Rogers, on Friday rejected demands by the Democratic Party of Arkansas that he return $15,000 he has received in campaign donations from indicted Rep. Tom DeLay. Boozman said he would return the funds if DeLay, the former House majority leader, is convicted. "Tom DeLay is not a criminal," Boozman said. "Congressman DeLay was indicted, but he hasn't been conviced of anything. If he were convicted then I would return it." On Wednesday, A Texas grand jury indicted DeLay and two associates on charges of criminal conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws in connection with a plan to help Republicans win control of the Texas House in the 2002 elections. DeLay temporarily stepped down from his post as House majority leader in accordance with House rules, vowing to fight the indictment that he said was politically motivated. Boozman received $15,000 in three campaign donations from DeLay's political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority, in October 2001, according to Federal Election Commission filings. "Now that Tom DeLay has been indicted, John Boozman should finally return the criminal money he's taken from the ethically challenged majority leader," Jason Willett, Arkansas Democratic chairman, said in a statement. "Despite serious criminal and ethics charges facing DeLay, John Boozman has continued to stand by his man, taking thousands of dollars from him," Willett said. Boozman called the statement "ludicrous." "It's irresponsible for him to imply that because I'm a friend of Tom DeLay and that he has been a good leader of the Republican Party that that somehow implies that I'm a criminal," Boozman said. Boozman noted Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has said he who would not return $5,000 in contributions from Chicago lawyer Joseph Cari, unless he pleaded guilty. Cari had been charged with attempted extortion. "I stand by him," Boozman said of DeLay. "I think Tom DeLay has been a very effective leader. I think he deserves his day in court." Boozman is the only Republican member of the six-member Arkansas congressional delegation. -- 30 -- |
