Edwards returns $44,000 donation

WASHINGTON, July 26 (UPI) -- Sen. John Edwards returned $44,000 in campaign donations after learning the contributor faces campaign finance charges, the New York Times said Monday.

The paper said the North Carolina senator who is Sen. John Kerry's vice presidential running mate on the Democratic national ticket learned the money was contributed by Pierre O'Donnell, a corporate lawyer in Los Angeles who was charged two months ago with violating California campaign finance law.

O'Donnell also faces charges from the Los Angeles ethics commission that has accused O'Donnell of reimbursing 22 employees and others for $22,500 in contributions to the 2001 Los Angeles mayoral campaign, the paper said.