Sept. 15, 2006, 11:18PM
Bush campaign to donate illegal donation
© 2006 The Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Donations that a former coin dealer funneled to President Bush's re-election campaign will be given to charity, barring further directions from authorities, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee said Friday.
Tom Noe, 52, has admitted arranging a contribution scheme to fulfill his promise to generate $50,000 for a Bush-Cheney fundraiser. He was sentenced Tuesday to two years and three months in prison on three charges, including exceeding federal campaign contribution limits.
Prosecutors said Noe gave $45,400 directly or indirectly to 24 friends and associates who made the donations in their names, allowing him to skirt the $2,000 limit on individual contributions.
Authorities said Bush's campaign committee was unaware of the alleged contribution scheme and unknowingly submitted a false campaign report to the Federal Election Commission.
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http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/nation/4191331.html