Local News - Norwich Bulletin - Democrats urge Simmons to return lobbyist's 'tainted' money

By KATHERINE HUTT SCOTT
Norwich Bulletin
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WASHINGTON-- The Democratic Party called on Rep. Rob Simmons Tuesday to return $1,250 in campaign contributions from Jack Abramoff, a former top Republican lobbyist who last week was indicted in connection with his purchase of a casino cruise line in Florida.

"Will Congressman Simmons send back the tainted contributions from the indicted super-lobbyist?"

Bill Burton, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement.

Simmons chief of staff, Todd Mitchell, declined to answer, noting that the congressman was working hard to save the Groton submarine base from being closed in this year's round of military base closings.

"We're deep in the fourth quarter of the (base-closing) process and we're not going to comment on these stupid political games that the national Democrats are playing," Mitchell said.

It's standard practice for politicians to return donations by donors whose activities have drawn law enforcement scrutiny, said Christopher Barnes of the University of Connecticut's Department of Public Policy.

But the amount of money involved and the scandal surrounding Abramoff aren't significant enough to taint Simmons, at least for the moment, Barnes said.

If the submarine base is ultimately closed and Simmons is in political peril, the donations by Abramoff could count against him, Barnes said.

"It's one of the those things that can stack up against someone," Barnes said.

FEC records confirm that Abramoff gave at least $1,000 to Simmons' campaign in 2002.

Another $250 came in 2001 from a Jack Abramoff with the same Washington address as the lobbyist.

But in an apparent error, the FEC record says that donor was employed as a designer for Electric Boat.

Dan Barrett, spokesman for Electric Boat, said no Jack Abramoff worked for the company in 2001.

Electric Boat, a division of General Dynamics, has a shipyard in Groton, part of Simmons' district.

Abramoff and his associate, New York businessman Adam Kidan, were indicted by a Florida grand jury on wire fraud charges related to their 2000 purchase of SunCruz.

Abramoff also is under federal investigation for allegedly bilking several casino-owning tribes who hired him to represent them before Congress.

Simmons is a perennial target of Democrats because his district leans Democratic. But in November, he defeated Democrat Jim Sullivan of Norwich, taking 54 percent of the vote to win a third term in office.