Rooney returns Rothstein contrib but not wife’s; Dem challenger calls it “shameful”

by George Bennett | November 4th, 2009

: Craft

: Rothstein

: Rooney

As Florida pols scramble to unload contributions they received from accused mega-scammer Scott Rothstein, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Tequesta, announced he’s giving the $4,600 he got last year from attorney Rothstein to a pair of Treasure Coast charities. But Rooney’s campaign said it doesn’t plan to return $4,600 he received from Rothstein’s wife last year.

Rooney’s Democratic challenger, St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Craft, slammed the incumbent for that.

Read Craft’s statement after the jump….

“On a day when both Republicans and Democrats chose to do the right thing and return political contributions made by Scott Rothstein and his wife, it’s shameful that Congressman Rooney and the Republican Party of Florida seem to be the only ones left who think that keeping some of this money earned through theft and deception is okay,” said a Craft statement. “The victims of the suspected Rothstein ponzi scheme deserve better and so do the people of the 16th District and our great state.”

The inclusion of the Republican Party of Florida in Craft’s hall of shame is apparently a reference to the state GOP’s decision to return around $150,000 in Rothstein money given during the current election cycle, but not more than $400,000 given between 2002 and 2008.

Tags: Chris Craft, Scott Rothstein

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 8:29 am and is filed under 2010 campaigns, George Bennett, Tom Rooney, U.S. House, campaign finance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

2 Responses to “Rooney returns Rothstein contrib but not wife’s; Dem challenger calls it “shameful””

paynomindlist Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am
hes gonna pay it back
Pete Tarnvosky Says:
November 4th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Dear Mr. Chris Craft, do something constructive with your life such as boating.

You’re already becoming tiresome. Many of us don’t appreciate desperate candidates who become shrill at any opportunity in order to get some attention.