Tribal PAC used to funnel illegal donations

FRIDAY, MAY 9, 2003

Tribal Sovereignty PAC, a defunct political action committee based in Oregon, was used to funnel illegal donations to a Congressional candidate, The Oregonian reports.

Tribal Sovereignty PAC accepted $10,000 from "well-connected Oklahomans," the paper said, and donated it to the candidate. It turns out the money was part of a scheme between Oklahoma state Sen. Gene Stipe and Walt Roberts to skirt federal law.

Stipe and Roberts pleaded guilty to breaking the law.

Neither the PAC nor its treasurer, former U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Furse, have been charged with any crimes. "It makes me mad that someone took advantage of us," Furse told the paper. She said she was told the money was from a tribal source.

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