| For Immediate Release May 9, 2001 |
Contact: Press Office 202-646-5172 |
Senator Peter Fitzgerald Pulls Out of National Republican Senatorial Committee Post Senate Fundraising Committee Had Offered Access to Bush Administration Officials In Exchange For Campaign Contributions (Washington, DC) Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL) was reported today in The Hill to have cut off ties to a fundraising arm of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), complaining to The Hill that he is �uncomfortable having my name connected to the (NRSC�s Republican Senatorial Trust) without the ability to vet what the trust was doing.� Judicial Watch, the public interest law firm that investigates and prosecutes government abuse and corruption, late last week threatened legal action over the NRSC�s fundraising pitch which sold access to high level Bush Cabinet officials in exchange for $1,000 gifts to the NRSC. Fundraising events with Bush officials at foreign embassies were also offered for sale. Judicial Watch had already taken legal action against Congressman Tom Delay and the Republican fundraising arm in the House of Representatives (the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)) over similar fundraising tactics. In response, Speaker Dennis Hastert refused to attend a NRCC event where meetings with Bush officials were also offered for sale. Speaker Hastert also announced that he would carefully review future fundraising solicitations from the NRCC, to prevent misuse of his office and name. �Senator Fitzgerald and Speaker Hastert deserve praise for doing the right thing in repudiating their party�s illegal and unethical fundraising tactics. Judicial Watch, through its strong legal actions, has forced these unprecedented actions,� said Judicial Watch Chairman and General Counsel Larry Klayman. �Now if only the Bush White House would stop offering our public officials for sale through the congressional fundraising committees, perhaps the stench of Clinton�s fundraising practices finally can begin to be lifted from this town,� stated Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. | |