Congressman Bob Turner received a campaign donation from embattled Staten Island Rep. Michael Grimm in August, and last week, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee went on the offensive against Turner, saying he took “tainted” money.
In a release last week, the DCCC called for Turner (R-Queens) to return a $1,000 campaign contribution from Grimm (R-Staten Island/Brooklyn) because of fundraising malpractice allegations that have been leveled against him.
Grimm is facing scrutiny lately for alleged fundraising schemes. A New York Times report in January claimed a fundraiser for Grimm used straw-men donors to receive gifts over the legal limit and from donors without green cards.
Democrats in the Senate are now asking for a Federal Election Commission and ethics investigations into Grimm’s fundraising, although neither has been launched.
The $1,000 was given in August—before Turner took office through a special election—and came through Grimm’s campaign committee, Michael Grimm For Congress.
Turner has been a repeated target of DCCC attacks.
The group bought airtime to run ads targeting Turner before he won in September to replace Anthony Wiener.
Since Turner took office, the DCCC has not let up.
“Congressman Bob Turner will be endorsing the worst kind of political corruption by continuing to hold on to tainted campaign cash he received from Congressman Michael Grimm,” said Josh Schwerin, a DCCC spokesman. “… It’s clear that Congressman Turner should disassociate himself from his scandal-plagued colleague and return the money immediately.”
Turner’s office did not respond to questions about the money.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
