Corrupt Oil Cash: Sununu Has Received $45,000 in Campaign Contributions from Indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 29, 2008

CONTACT:
Kate Bedingfield
603 782 4613 (o)/603 361 8036 (c)/ kbedingfield@jeanneshaheen.org

Caitlin Legacki
603 782 4613 (o)/603 361 9643 (c)/ clegacki@jeanneshaheen.org

CORRUPT OIL CASH: SUNUNU HAS RECEIVED $45,000 IN CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INDICTED ALASKA SENATOR TED STEVENS

Shaheen campaign calls on Sununu to return tainted money

(Manchester, NH) – Today, as Alaska Senator Ted Stevens is indicted on felony corruption charges, John Sununu's campaign continues to be funded by $45,000 in tainted campaign contributions that he has received from Stevens, at least $65,000 that Stevens has raised on behalf of Sununu's campaign and the $4000 he has yet to return from the Veco oil pipeline construction company that is at the center of the Stevens corruption case.

"As yet another Republican official faces federal indictment, John Sununu is using tainted money from national Republicans to finance his campaign," said Kate Bedingfield, communications director for Jeanne Shaheen for Senate.  "Sununu should return the $45,000 in campaign contributions he has received from Stevens immediately, as well as the tens of thousands of dollars that Stevens has raised for him and the $4,000 he has taken from Veco.  New Hampshire families want a Senator who is looking out for them, not taking thousands in campaign cash from corrupt national Republicans in the pocket of Big Oil."

John Sununu has taken $45,000 from Ted Stevens' Northern Lights PAC; $20,000 to the Sununu campaign and $25,000 to the Sununu Victory Fund. [Center for Responsive Politics, NPR Marketplace Radio 10/11/07]

In April 2002, Stevens hosted a joint $500-a-person fundraiser for Sununu's campaign and Sununu thanked Stevens for his help and called him "a friend." [The Hotline, 3/21/02]    

In June of 2002, Stevens held his second fundraiser on behalf of Sununu and said he hoped to raise $65,000 for Sununu's campaign. [Associated Press, 6/17/02] 

In 2007, Sununu called Stevens a "capable legislator" for his work on the Commerce Committee. [Sununu Release, 10/3/07]

Sununu has returned $2,000 of the $6,000 he has received from Veco, but still has $4,000 from Veco funding his campaign. [Associated Press, 10/6/07]