Speaking of Ohio Republicans, the Toledo Blade is reporting:
Former GOP fund-raiser Tom Noe admitted today that he used politicians, former aides to Gov. Bob Taft, coworkers, and friends to illegally pour thousands of dollars into the effort to reelect President Bush.
Noe entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge David Katz in Toledo to all three felony charges he faced for violating federal campaign finance law. Appearing with his sister and brother-in-law and three attorneys, Noe was calm and responsive to Judge Katz’ questions during the 47-minute hearing.
. . .
John Pearson, an assistant U.S. Attorney in the public integrity section of the Justice Department, said he would seek an even harsher penalty for Noe because of the “potential loss of public faith in the presidential race.”
Noe, 51, was indicted in October on three charges related to the funneling of more then $45,000 into the Bush campaign at a $2,000-a-seat fund-raiser in Columbus in October, 2003. The Bush campaign later named Noe a “Pioneer†for raising at least $100,000 overall.
Some folks might recall that George Bush’s slim margin in Ohio was the key to his narrow victory over John Kerry in 2004.
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