Examiner Editorial: Politicians should always return dirty financing

What do Vice President Joe Biden, Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Chris Dodd from Connecticut, Barbara Boxer of California and Rep. Carolyn Maloney have in common — besides the fact all are Democrats? They are the first D.C. politicians pledging to either return or give to charity thousands of dollars they received from Democratic financier Hassan Nemazee. If Nemazee’s name doesn’t sound familiar now, it probably will be in coming days, as he was arrested 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 decades in federal prison if he is
convicted.

Campaign finance data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics reveal Nemazee, 59, as one of President Barack 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’s Al Franken, Deputy Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, former Democratic presidential contender John Edwards of North Carolina, Jim Webb of Virginia, 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 Washington 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.