In a letter sent today to North Carolina's Republican Members of Congress, North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Jerry Meek requested that they follow the lead of fellow Republican Representatives and return tainted money received from Tom DeLay.

Former Republican Majority Leader DeLay, who has given almost $100,000 in campaign contributions to North Carolina Republicans, has been indicted on felony charges of criminal conspiracy and money laundering.

"North Carolina's Republican Members of Congress should return any contributions from DeLay immediately," said Chairman Meek. "He and his fundraisers have been charged with breaking campaign finance laws, so money he funneled to others is tainted as well. Tom DeLay and his supporters in Congress have created a corrupt, pay-to-play system that puts the ill in illicit. North Carolina needs men and women in Congress who will put North Carolina families first, not becoming part of the Republican culture of corruption in Washington. We need a change of direction in Congress."

Congressman Robin Hayes is far and away the biggest beneficiary in North Carolina of DeLay's illicit pay-to-play system, receiving more than half of the $98,745 funneled into North Carolina Congressional races. This week's Newsweek magazine even listed Robin Hayes as one of the top recipients of DeLay money in Congress [Newsweek, October 10, 2005]. The $52,000 Hayes received is not his first association with illegally laundered corporate money for campaign purposes. As reported in a front-page article in the October 3, 2005 edition of the Charlotte Observer, Hayes conspired to launder corporate money in his unsuccessful 1996 bid for Governor as well.

So far, North Carolina members of Congress have taken the following amounts from DeLay:

Robin Hayes: $52,722
Virginia Foxx: $15,000
Walter Jones: $11,373
Patrick McHenry: $10,000
Charles Taylor: $6,130
Sue Myrick: $3,520

"Unfortunately, North Carolina House Republicans have supported and benefited from DeLay's pay-to-play system, putting special interests ahead of middle class families," said Meek. "They need to each answer whether or not they will continue to benefit from DeLay's dirty donations to their campaign funds."

So far, three DeLay benefactors from other states have returned money. Congressman Jeb Bradley (R-NH), Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM), and Congressman Kenny Hulsof (R-MO) have all decided to return their DeLay money.

Contributions from ARMPAC: www.tray.com

The letters read:

Dear Congressman/Congresswoman [Hayes, Jones, Taylor, Foxx, McHenry, Myrick]:

I am writing on behalf of North Carolina's voters to request that you return the tainted money funneled into your campaigns in recent years by Tom DeLay, who was recently indicted on conspiracy and money laundering charges.

North Carolina voters deserve to know that their elected officials adhere to the highest ethical standards and will avoid the even the appearance of impropriety. It is time we had representatives in Congress who put working families before personal gain.

You and your Republican colleagues have received these contributions:

Robin Hayes: $52,722
Walter Jones: $11,373
Virginia Foxx: $15,000
Sue Myrick: $3,520
Patrick McHenry: $10,000
Charles Taylor: $6,130

Thank you for your consideration of returning this tainted money and doing what is right for North Carolina voters.

Sincerely,

Jerry Meek, Chair