Dems group accuses state GOP of hiding illegal donation in 2002

Dems group accuses state GOP of hiding illegal donation in 2002

By Katharine Webster, Associated Press Writer | May 10, 2006

CONCORD, N.H. --A Democratic research group is accusing the state Republican Party of illegally accepting a $10,000 contribution from a Mississippi Indian tribe in 2002, then concealing half of it because it exceeded the $5,000 cap on contributions for federal races.

Two pro-gambling Indian tribes that were clients of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff gave $10,000 each to the state Republican Party shortly before a close U.S. Senate race won by Republican John Sununu, records show.

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News organizations had previously reported the Republican State Committee received $5,000 each from the two tribes and $5,000 from then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's political action committee, Americans for a Republican Majority, in the final days before the 2002 election. The phone-jamming operation cost $15,600.

Abramoff, who pleaded guilty in January to influence-peddling, had close ties to DeLay, who faces money-laundering and conspiracy charges involving Texas legislative elections in 2002 and is the target of a federal corruption probe

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/maine/articles/2006/05/10/dems_group_accuses_state_gop_of_hiding_illegal_donation_in_2002