AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick has denied any wrongdoing in accepting a $100,000 corporate campaign contribution involved in a fundraising scandal.
Craddick, a Republican, has said he broke no law in picking up the check cited in state charges filed Tuesday in Austin against three GOP fundraisers with close ties to U.S. House Majority Tom DeLay. Neither Craddick or Delay was charged.
Bob Richter, Craddick's press secretary, told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram the check was given to Craddick at Houston in 2002 and "he didn't even look at the check." He later handed it to a staff member who delivered it to a political action committee.
"There's nothing illegal about it," Richter said.
Craddick and DeLay have blasted the investigation by Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle, a Democrat, but some Democrats and Austin political watchdog groups have called for the speaker to step down at least until the investigation is completed.
Earle's investigation has targeted the Texans for a Republican Majority Political Action Committee and several other groups and corporations. State law prohibits the use of corporate funds for campaign purposes, although it can be used to cover administrative costs.
The funds raised in 2002 helped Republicans take control of the Texas Legislature, which resulted in passage of a hotly contested congressional redistricting plan last year.
