AT&T, Verizon generous to Sen. Rockefeller

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- Top executives at AT&T and Verizon gave generous campaign contributions to U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV while seeking immunity for eavesdropping.

Most of the money, which totaled $42,000, came from two fundraisers for the West Virginia Democrat, one in March sponsored by Verizon in New York and one put on by AT&T in San Antonio in May, The New York Times reported.

Rockefeller chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. He has become an important backer of immunity for telecommunications companies that assist in National Security Administration wiretapping.

“Any suggestion that Senator Rockefeller would make policy decisions based on campaign contributions is patently false,” Wendy Morigi, a Rockefeller spokeswoman, said. “He made his decision to support limited immunity based on the Intelligence Committee’s careful review of the situation and our national security interests.”