Politicos should return Nemazee's dirty cash
August 30, 2009
What do Vice-President Joe Biden, senators Chuck Schumer of New York, Chris Dodd of Connecticut, Barbara Boxer of California, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney have in common besides the fact all are Democrats? They are the first Washington politicians pledging to either return or give to charity thousands of dollars they received from financier Hassan Nemazee. Nemazee has long been a big cheese in Democratic fundraising circles and now he's becoming a household name after his arrest earlier this week on charges he tried to bilk Citicorp out of $74 million. He is now under house arrest in New York, and faces many years in federal prison if he is convicted.
Campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics reveal that Nemazee, 59, was one of President Obama's most successful bundlers, raising more than $500,000 on behalf of the 2008 Democratic nominee. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton received $33,500 in contributions from Nemazee. When he was a member of the House of Representatives, current White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel received $1,000 from Nemazee. Nemazee also gave substantial sums to the three major Democratic campaign committees, including $113,500 to the Democratic National Committee, $89,200 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and $29,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
But what really makes Nemazee stand out is his apparent fascination with giving money to Democratic senators. Besides the aforementioned Schumer, Dodd and Boxer, the list includes Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, 2004 Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry of Massachusetts, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota, Minnesota comic Al Franken, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, former Democratic presidential contender John Edwards of North Carolina, Jim Webb of Virginia, Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, Robert Torricelli of New Jersey and on and on and on. Nemazee also gave token contributions to a few Republicans, including Sam Brownback of Kansas, Kay Bailey Hutchinson of Texas, and Jesse Helms of North Carolina.
But so far only Biden, Schumer, Dodd, Boxer and Maloney are pledging to do the right thing with the dirty money they got from Nemazee. The Examiner will be watching closely in coming days to see how many other recipients get rid of their Nemazee cash. Let it also be noted here that three House members recently spotlighted in the Examiner's continuing Dirty Money Watch series have also opted to cleanse their campaign coffers of filthy lucre. The three include Democrats Steve Israel and Nita Lowy of New York, and Republican Michael McCaul. It's unfortunate that campaigns so often attract dirty money, but it's encouraging to see these politicians from both major parties doing the right thing with it.
