Former RNC Chairman Potentially Involved in Unlawful Campaign Tactics

Sens. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) and Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, citing media reports that  Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.), former chair of the Republican National Committee, was involved in unlawful campaign tactics during the New Hampshire elections of 2002.

The media reports that Haley Barbour, a former National Republican Party chairman, arranged a quarter-million dollar loan to provide startup financing for the telemarketing company implicated in the scheme.

The following is the letter in its entirety.

April 28, 2006

The Honorable Alberto Gonzales
Attorney General
United States Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Attorney General Gonzales:

You have not responded to our letter sent two weeks ago in which we expressed our grave concerns about the serious allegations of unlawful campaign tactics employed by the Republican Party during the 2002 elections in New Hampshire.  A copy of that letter is attached.

In the days since we sent that letter, additional facts have come to light regarding the phone jamming scheme employed during the New Hampshire election.  The media reports that Haley Barbour, a former National Republican Party chairman, arranged a quarter-million dollar loan to provide startup financing for the telemarketing company implicated in the scheme.  In our continuing efforts to discover the truth about what happened and who was involved in the scheme to disenfranchise New Hampshire voters, in addition to our pending list of questions posed in our previous correspondence, we want to be sure that you also advise us whether those who arranged the financing for the telemarketing firm, G-O-P Marketplace, are being questioned in the investigation. 

We look forward to hearing from you on or before May 1, 2006.     

Sincerely,

PATRICK LEAHY                                                             EDWARD M. KENNEDY

Ranking Member                                                               United States Senator