For Immediate Release 54trv\===
Contact: Mike Bertuzzi
April 28, 2008
How Long Will Democrats Hang on to Tainted Treasure?
With Two Indictments Handed Down on Celis, when is Corrupt Money Too
Corrupt for Herrero, Garcia?
Corpus Christi – Nueces County Republican Party Chairman Mike Bertuzzi
today called on State Reps. Abel Herrero and Juan Garcia to return the
large, corruption-tainted donations they have received from indicted
Democratic contributor Mauricio Celis.
Celis was indicted for the second time by a Nueces County jury on
Friday. The grand jury handed up two indictments charging Celis with
money laundering and impersonating a lawyer. In November 2007, a
Nueces County grand jury indicted the former law firm operator on
felony charges of impersonating a lawyer and a police officer, perjury
and theft.
"When is corrupt money too corrupt for Abel Herrero and Juan Garcia?"
Bertuzzi asked. "If Celis contributions were too tainted for Solomon
Ortiz Jr., why do Representatives Herrero and Garcia continue to hang
on to their contributions?"
Ortiz, Jr. apparently decided it isn't right to keep money donated by Celis. He
donated thousands of dollars in contributions from Celis to charity
earlier this year.
"The people of Nueces County have had enough of inside deals, and
pay-to-play politics," Bertuzzi said. "Herrero and Garcia ought to
return every dime of his tainted treasure."
Herrero, has given away $1,000 of Celis' contributions, but refuses to
give away the full $50,000 he has received from Celis directly. In
addition, Herrero has received $50,000 from the so-called Good
Government Political Action Committee, which has been bankrolled by
Celis and other wealthy Democratic donors.
Celis gave $17,000 directly to Garcia's campaign but the Celis
sponsored Good Government PAC spent over $450,000 to help Garcia win
the District 32 seat. Garcia has previously called Celis, who hosted a
national fundraiser for Garcia, one of his largest individual
contributors.
Bertuzzi said Garcia and Herrero should return all those contributions
or give them to charity because all of the money was tainted.
"This is not the first time we have asked Herrero and Garcia to do the
right thing and give back these tainted contributions," Bertuzzi said.
"How many times does Mr. Celis have to be indicted before the these
two politicians realize that the hundreds of thousands of dollars they
have collected from Mr. Celis and his associates was money they should
not have used to line their campaign pocketbooks?"
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Nueces County Republican Headquarters
Mike Bertuzzi, County Chairman
4458 South Staples
Corpus Christi, TX 78411
Office: (361) 994-9317
Fax: (361) 994-9343
E-Mail: ( ncrpcctx@grandecom.net )
