Maryland GOP: Candidates Should Return Tainted Funds from Richard Stewart

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Dec. 26 -- The Maryland Republican Party issued the following news release:

Governor Martin O'Malley answered last week's calls from Republicans to dismiss his friend and political advisor, Richard Stewart, as the only civilian commissioner on the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee and as a member of the Maryland Stadium Authority. The Governor attempted to distance himself from the situation by following the dismissal with the claim that he was "clueless."

According to the Department of Justice (http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2011/December/11-tax-1649.html), "From 2003 through at least 2008, Stewart did not collect, truthfully account for and pay over approximately $3,969,337 of Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) taxes and federal income tax withholdings, commonly known as trust fund taxes, from his employees' wages." Stewart plead guilty to the charges and now faces up to five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

David Ferguson, Executive Director of the Maryland Republican Party, commented by saying, "This is not a matter of left or right, but right and wrong. As more facts come to light, it would be entirely appropriate if the candidates who received stolen money return the contributions."

Ferguson continued, "It is unfortunate Governor O'Malley feels character flaws and criminal activity are irrelevant when he selects advisors to manage the people's business. Whether he was willfully ignorant or simply irresponsible, either is dangerous and detrimental to Maryland's future."

According to the Federal Elections Commission and the Center for American Politics at the University of Maryland, Stewart made contributions to 48 candidates totalling nearly $73,230 during the time frame he was was stealing from his employees. Among his largest benefactors were Governor Martin O'Malley, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, and the Maryland Democratic Party.

The average donation per candidate was $1,525.63, almost three times the average weekly income of a Prince George's County resident (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24/24033.html).

Richard Stewart's Contributions

$7,500.00 Democratic State Central Committee Of Maryland

$7,000.00 O'Malley, Martin Friends Of

$6,100.00 Vaughn, Michael Friends Of

$5,000.00Albert Wynn for Congress

$4,750.00 Brown, Anthony Friends Of

$4,250.00 Walker, Jay Friends Of

$4,200.00 Dixon, Sheila Friends For

<p>$3,000.00O'Malley Brown Committee Slate

$2,500.00 Exum, (Nathaniel) The Committee

$2,000.00Democratic National Committee

$2,000.00 House Democratic Committee Slate, Maryland

$1,500.00 Branch, Talmadge Friends of

$1,500.00Elijah Cummings for Congress

$1,500.00 McFadden, Nathaniel J. for Senate

$1,500.00 Muse, C. Anthony Friends Of

$1,250.00 Baker, Rushern III Friends Of-Comm For Pol Change (CPC)

$1,150.00 Jacobs, Jeana Citizens For

$1,100.00 Stone, Howard W. Jr. Friends Of

$1,000.00 Committee For A Progressive Prince Georges Slate

$1,000.00 Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

$1,000.00 Exum, Camille Friends Of

$1,000.00 Harrington, David Friends Of

$1,000.00Hillary Clinton for President

$1,000.00 Miller, Juanita Friends Of

$1,000.00 PEOPLE FOR CARL ANDREWS COMMITTEE

$900.00 Prince George's County Democratic Central Committee

$750.00 Currie, Ulysses Friends Of

$750.00 Dean, Samuel H. Committee To Elect

$600.00 Turner, Ingrid Citizens To Elect

$500.00 Collins, Reuben Friends Of

$500.00Frank Kratovil for Congress

$500.00 Kendrick Meet for Florida

$500.00Kweisi Mfume for US Senate

$500.00 Leggett, Isiah Ike Friends Of

$500.00 Mechanical Contractors of America PAC

$500.00 Rawlings-Blake, Stephanie Friends Of

$500.00 Unity Slate

$300.00 Young, Bernard C. Friends Of

$250.00Barack Obama for America

$250.00Holmes, Marvin E. Jr. Friends Of

$100.00 Community Coalition Advocacy Slate

$100.00 Fennell, Diana Friends Of

$100.00 High, Melvin C. Friends Of

$100.00 Thomas, Nathaniel New Beginnings Committee To Elect

$75.00 Turner, Arthur Friends Of

$70.00 Johnson, Jack Friends Of

$50.00 Coryell, Walter Citizens For

$35.00 Realtors PAC, Md. (MD RPAC)

Sources:

1. Paul S. Herrnson, P.I., Maryland Elections Center (College Park, MD: Center for American Politics and Citizenship, University of Maryland).

2. Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20463

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