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Here is Congressman Manzullo's reply:

Thank you for your inquiry and giving us the chance to respond.

First, the figures are wrong. Congressman Manzullo only received $3,500 from the two Indian tribes combined -- not $5,000. Both the Manzullo campaign's internal audits and the FEC reports show only the following donations:

a) Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians -- donated $500 on June 25, 2002, and $1,000 on October 29, 2002.

b) Mississippi Band of the Choctaw Indians -- donated $2,000 on March 2, 2005.

Second, the donations from Agua Caliente had absolutely nothing to do with Jack Abramoff. Agua Caliente was previously represented by lobbyist Jim Wise, and the Indian tribe made the donation to the Congressman through Mr. Wise and not Mr. Abramoff. Jim Wise, who eventually lost the Agua Caliente contract to Jack Abramoff, represented many small businesses and was familiar with Congressman Manzullo through his actions on the Small Business Committee. The Agua Caliente band was interested in small business issues at the time (they were trying to transform from gambling to more entrepreneurial efforts) and donated to the Congressman through Jim Wise.

Again, the Agua Caliente donation had nothing to do with Jack Abramoff.

Third, we could not determine the circumstances surrounding the $2,000 donation from the Choctaw Indians. It was apparently an unsolicited donation. Because the Congressman could not determine the source of the donation -- and Jack Abramoff was representing the Choctaw tribe at the time -- the Congressman has decided to give the $2,000 back to the Choctaw Indians, the victims in the Abramoff swindle.

Just so you know, Congressman Manzullo has never met Jack Abramoff. He has never spoken with Jack Abramoff. He has nothing to do with Jack Abramoff. He is opposed to gambling expansion. And he thinks Jack Abramoff is a criminal who should spend the rest of his life in jail.

Thank you for taking the time to inquire.

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