(Cross-posted at
Blue Jersey)
On Aug 18, 2005, Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R) said he would return a $1000 contribution that Jack Abramoff made in June of 2001. But unbelievably, the day before, on Aug 17, 2005, Abramoff made a second $1000 contribution to LoBiondo.
Rep. Jim Saxton (R) already returned a $1000 contribution that Abramoff made in 2001, but Saxton also received $1000 in 2003 and $1000 in 2004 from Abramoff. Maybe the 2001 money was a bribe so they are giving it back, while the rest of the money was just influence peddling so they are deciding to keep it.
Rep. Mike Ferguson (R) still hasn't returned the $1000 he got from Abramoff.
State Senator William Gormley (R) also got $1000 from Abramoff in 2000 when he was running for US Senate.
And how could we forget? Abramoff also gave $5000 to the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
By my calculations, the NJ GOP and elected officials have received at least $12,000 from Abramoff but only promised to return $2,000. Even the ones who did say they would return contributions aren't returning the full amount. Nice.