Dirty Money Surfaces in Travis Childers’ Bankroll
Mississippi Dem Refuses to Cough Up Tainted Cash
Washington- The dirty money in Travis Childers’ campaign account is piling up as Washington Democrats find themselves in the midst of another scandal. While the transgressions of Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters have been well-documented, Childers is holding onto $2,000 in contributions from Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (Source: FEC). Johnson recently admitted to steering scholarship funds to family members and relatives of a key advisor, a direct violation of caucus rules.
“It’s no surprise that Washington Democrats have an ongoing ethics problem, but it is outrageous that Travis Childers endorses his party’s corruption by holding onto his colleagues’ dirty contributions,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “With the economy in dire straits, it’s inexcusable that Childers is allowing his fellow Democrats to abuse their power for financial gain. By refusing to give back his pile of tainted money, Childers is telling Mississippi voters that he’s part of the problem in Washington.”
Over the weekend, Johnson admitted that she violated caucus rules by improperly steering scholarship funds to her own family members and relatives of Rod Givens, a key aide:
“Longtime Dallas congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson has awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to four relatives and a top aide’s two children since 2005, using foundation funds set aside for black lawmakers’ causes.
“The recipients were ineligible under anti-nepotism rules of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which provided the money. And all of the awards violated a foundation requirement that scholarship winners live or study in a caucus member’s district.”
“Further, [General Counsel Amy] Goldson said, the failure of a lawmaker or aides to follow eligibility rules ‘is a violation of the letter and spirit of [the Foundation’s] requirements.’” (Todd J. Gillman and Christy Hoppe, “Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated rules by Steering Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships to Relatives,” Dallas Morning News, 8/29/10)
Will Childers finally turn over his dirty contributions or will he continue to endorse corruption in Washington by holding onto the money? Either way, it’s clear that Mississippi families deserve better from their elected representative.
NRCC Press Release
8/30/10
Magnolia Tribune
