Bergen Record: Garrett should return $1,000, challenger says

August 1st, 2008

Herb Jackson

Democratic challenger Dennis Shulman’s campaign is calling on Rep. Scott Garrett to return a $1,000 contribution from Sen. Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican who was indicted this week.

Garrett’s campaign committee received $1,000 from the Stevens for Senate Committee in September 2002.

Eleven Republican senators this week returned or donated to charity $126,000 received from Stevens since he was indicted on charges related to renovations made to his home by an energy company whose executives have pleaded guilty to bribery. Among those disgorging Stevens’ money was Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Shulman, a rabbi and psychologist from Demarest, has previously criticized Garrett for accepting contributions from banks while serving on the financial services committee, and for employing an aide who previously served as a lobbyist for a bank now mired in the mortgage crisis.

“Between Scott Garrett’s relationships with corporate lobbyists and ethically-challenged Republican colleagues, what Washington scandal is Scott Garrett not a part of?” Jeff Hauser, Shulman’s campaign manager, said Thursday.

Garrett’s campaign did not immediately return a call for comment. (Get the original at the Bergen Record )

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