Romney took funds from same donor GOP blasted Obama for taking money from
By mitch dudek Staff Reporter/mdudek@suntimes.com July 2, 2012 8:04PM
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney campaigns at Electronic Instrumentation and Technology in Sterling, Va., Wednesday, June 27, 2012. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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Updated: August 4, 2012 6:32AM
President Barack Obama washed his hands of toxic campaign money donated by controversial figure Aiham Alsammarae in 2008 by donating it to charity. Will Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney do the same?
Alsammarae, of Downers Grove, was a college pal of imprisoned political fixer Tony Rezko. Alsammarae posted Rezko’s bail in 2008 — a fact that did not escape the Republican National Committee, which was quick to issue a press release highlighting the connection.
Obama got rid of the $2,300 Alsammarae gave his campaign.
Now the tables are turned.
Romney received five contributions totaling $2,300 from Alsammarae in 2011 and $2,500 two months ago. That’s in addition to the $250 he gave Romney in 2008, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Neither representatives from the Romney campaign nor the RNC returned phone calls or emails seeking comment.
Alsammarae — a dual U.S.-Iraqi citizen who was once convicted of corruption in Iraq — broke out of a Baghdad jail in 2006, returned to his suburban Chicago home and has said the charges against him have been vacated.
Attempts to reach Alsammarae were also unsuccessful.
Contributing: USA Today
