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Area's representatives in Congress donate money from DeLay, Abramoff. 'Perception is everything,' Rep. Jo Ann Davis says.

Date published: 1/14/2006

By EDIE GROSS and DONNIE JOHNSTON

Area members of Congress are taking steps to distance themselves from the latest round of scandals to hit Washington.

On Wednesday, Rep. Jo Ann Davis' office cut a $10,000 check to a Virginia breast cancer charity, divesting itself of money provided years ago by an organization run by Tom DeLay, the former House majority leader now under indictment in Texas.

And Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th, has donated $9,000 linked to fallen lobbyist Jack Abramoff to a Richmond nonprofit.

DeLay, R-Texas, stepped down from his leadership post in September after he was charged with money laundering involving campaign funds. On Jan. 7, he said he would not try to regain that position.

Davis, whose 1st District includes Fredericksburg, surrounding counties and the Northern Neck, made the decision to donate the money two days before that. She said the money her campaign received in 2000 and 2001 from DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC was in no way connected to the current scandal.

"But in our world today, perception is everything, and my reputation is very important to me," she said. "I'm not indicting Tom DeLay. But I want my name to be totally clear and above board."

Davis' office sent the money to the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, an advocacy group based in Richmond. Davis, 55, was diagnosed with breast cancer in September.

Cantor has also received money from ARMPAC--$10,000 in the summer of 2000 and another $5,000 in 2002. Cantor's spokesman, Geoff Embler, said Thursday that the congressman was not planning to relinquish money he received from DeLay's PAC.

However, earlier this month Cantor announced that he would donate any money linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his wife, Pamela, to the William Byrd Community House, a Richmond organization that provides services to families in inner-city neighborhoods.

Cantor, whose district includes parts of Caroline, Spotsylvania, Orange and Culpeper, accepted $9,000 from the Abramoffs between 2000 and 2003, according to PoliticalMoneyLine, a nonpartisan service that tracks campaign finance information.

On Jan. 3, Abramoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud and tax evasion and agreed to help federal prosecutors in an investigation of congressmen, their aides and other Capitol Hill lobbyists. DeLay's name has been mentioned in connection with the Abramoff investigation.

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Date published: 1/14/2006