Ashley Woolard for Congress » Campaign News » Woolard: Butterfield must give back Rangel payoff or.

Woolard: Butterfield must give back Rangel payoff or face escalation



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Woolard: Butterfield must give back Rangel payoff or face escalation


Washington, NC-July 29,2010-Republican Congressional nominee Ashley Woolard (NC-1) strongly criticized incumbent G.K. Butterfield this afternoon following release of Ethics Panel charges against embattled Democratic congressman Charlie Rangel. Earlier this week Woolard, in a series of district-wide press conferences, demanded Butterfield return "political bribes" given him in the form of campaign contributions from Rangel.

Butterfield sits on the Ethics Committee investigating Rangel that handed down today's decision. Opensecrets.org has reported Rangel has made $4000 in contributions to Butterfield.

"Congressman Butterfield must return these political bribes before the September trial. Failure to do so -- as many of his Democratic colleagues have done already -- ensures this issue will be a dominant theme in the upcoming election campaign," said Woolard Thursday.

"Charlie Rangel is another corrupt Democratic congressman that belongs in prison like Frank Ballance. Congressman Butterfield has taken a payoff to watch his back and unless these ill-gotten funds are returned, runs the risk of having the First District seat tainted by corruption once more," Woolard said.

Butterfield was first elected to congress in a 2004 special election to fill the unexpired term of convicted felon Frank Ballance. Ballance resigned suddenly amidst scandal involving embezzlement of taxpayer monies.

"Congressman Butterfield knows keeping this money is wrong, yet he refuses to return it. This begs the question of who he is really working for -- it's obvious it is not the people of eastern North Carolina,” Woolard said.

For further information:
Bill Tarpenning
Woolard For Congress
PO Box 1116
107 Gladden Street
Washington, NC 27889
Phone 252-944-5377