Kline to return funds if DeLay is convicted

09/30/2005

BY ARON KAHN
Pioneer Press

U.S. Rep. John Kline, who represents Minnesota’s Second Congressional District, will return $30,000 in campaign contributions he received from Majority Leader Tom DeLay if the Texas Republican is convicted of money-laundering, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Earlier in the day, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee challenged Republican House members, including Kline and two others from Minnesota, to return what it called “tainted DeLay money.”

Kline spokeswoman Angelyn Shapiro accused Democrats of spinning the indictment out of proportion.

“What we have here is yet another attempt by the Democratic Party to divert our attention away from their lack of a serious national agenda,” Shapiro said.

“The Texas PAC is in no way affiliated with the national PAC that Mr. Kline and others have received money from. And the money that Mr. Kline has received is from previous elections, not the upcoming one. (But) it remains our policy to refund any illegal donations, and we will absolutely do that if that’s found to be the case.’’

Democrats said U.S. Reps. Mark Kennedy, who represents the 6th District, and Gil Gutknecht, who represents the 1st, also received $29,500 and $5,778, respectively. Neither they nor their representatives could be reached for comment Thursday.

A Texas grand jury charged DeLay with violating a state law by channeling corporate donations from his political action committee through the Republican National Committee and back to other candidates.

Aron Kahn can be reached at or 651-228-5569.