PRESS RELEASE: Max Burns Backer Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charges

Max Burns Backer Pleads Guilty to Federal Corruption Charges
Scandal ridden Ohio Congressman Bob Ney contributed $7,000 to Max Burns’ campaign coffers; Barrow campaign calls on Burns to “come clean” and “return every dime of dirty money” he’s taken from disgraced ex-Congressmen Ney, Cunningham, and DeLay

Savannah, GA – Earlier this year, Washington Lobbyist Max Burns scoffed at the notion of returning $32,500 in campaign contributions he’d received from disgraced Members of Congress who’d either been convicted, indicted, or were currently under federal investigation for corruption and bribery: Congressmen Bob Ney, Randy Cunningham, and Tom DeLay.

At that time, only one of the three Congressmen/Burns backers was behind bars: California Congressman Randy Cunningham. But today, a second Burns backer, Ohio Congressman Bob Ney, pled guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and making false statements.

Public records show that Max Burns has accepted $32,500 in campaign and PAC contributions from Ney, Cunningham, and DeLay, dating back to his first run for Congress in 2002: $20,000 from DeLay, $7,000 from Ney, and $5,500 from Cunningham.

When asked in April if the campaign planned to return these donations, Burns Campaign Manager Tim Baker told the Savannah Morning News (April 24, 2006) that they couldn’t return the money “because it’s already been spent.” Those comments were made just a few days after the Burns campaign reported having $681,957 in the bank.

Even still, the Burns campaign went on to defend the disgraced Congressmen/Burns backers, saying that “people in the district understand that you’re presumed innocent until proven guilty.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Barrow spokesman Harper Lawson said. “And now that two of his three crooked donors have pled guilty, Mr. Burns should have no qualms about returning every dime of their dirty money. In fact, he can save himself a future headache and return DeLay’s money today as well. It’s a chance for Max to come clean, and clear his plate of all the dirty money he’s taken.”

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