Earlier today, A former CEO of Qwest was found guilty of illegal stock trading. He was convicted for illegally selling 52 million dollars in stock.
The conviction comes on 19 counts of insider trading.
This story has a great recap of the whole history of the story.
Why does this matter for Elizabeth Dole? After all Joseph Nacchio gave to candidates of a few different ideologies.
He gave money to a few Democrats and a few Republicans. But, there is a tiny little detail.
Since 1994 Mr Nacchio gave 10 contributions totaling $7,500 to various sources.
But, there is a tiny little detail. Four of those eleven contributions were to Elizabeth Dole. These contributions total $4,000. That number doesnt include the extra $1000 that Qwest’s PAC gave to Dole in 2006. It also does not include the $1000 that the wife of Mr Nacchio gave to Dole in 2001.
Although the media might try to spend it, it is very obvious that a convicted criminal has supported her more than any other candidate. Of the 7500 dollars that he has given to politicians, he gave Elizabeth Dole 4 times more than any other candidate.
Now, I wont try to figure out why a CEO of a Colorado company that reports his address as being in either CO or NJ (depending on the day apparently).
What I will question is, Is Senator Dole proud of accepting money from modern day robber barons?
In 2002 Dole accepted $1000 from both Mr and Mrs Kenneth Lay She also took $1028 from the Enron PAC during the 2002 cycle.
Abramoff could only be bothered to give $1000 to Dole. Money she claims is being given to charity.
However, in 2006, while head of the NRSC, she refused to give the almost $400,000 from Abramoff and his associates to charity.
However, I did an extensive search of the FEC report filed by Elizabeth Dole in the first quarter of 2006. I found nothing. Not a single donation to any charity. Just normal campaign amounts.
Today I am asking that she donate every penny received from this convicted felon to charity. Additionally, we demand that some actual proof be given that the money from both Abramoff and Nacchio was indeed sent to charity.
We will not allow her to hide behind the facade of these donations being from 5 years ago. The simple fact is that a criminal is a criminal. We will not accept money from criminals to influence our Senator.
Give it back Senator Dole. Give it Back.