House

Lieu donates contributions from Ed Buck after second man found dead in Dem donor’s home

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) announced he will donate more than $18,000 in campaign contributions from Ed Buck after a second man was found dead in the Democratic donor’s home.

In a statement on his website, Lieu said that he would split the contributions between five civil rights organizations, including the NAACP and The Trevor Project, a group aimed at preventing suicide among LGBTQ youth.

“I am deeply disturbed by the latest revelations of a second death by overdose at the home of Ed Buck,” Lieu said in the statement. “While we await the results of the law enforcement investigation, I am going to donate the contributions I have received from Mr. Buck to my federal campaign over the years.”

{mosads}A man, described as an African-American in his 50s, was found dead Monday at Buck’s West Hollywood apartment.

The death comes 1 1/2 years after the death of Gemmel Moore, a 26-year-old black, gay male escort who died of a methamphetamine overdose in Buck’s home. Moore’s death was ruled an accident and charges were not filed against Buck due to insufficient evidence.

Authorities said they are conducting a thorough investigation to determine if this week’s death was “criminal in nature,” but Buck has not been arrested or named a suspect.

Buck’s attorney, Seymour Amster, said Buck had been friends with the man, whose name has not been released, for 25 years.

Buck, a prominent Democratic donor and advocate for LGBTQ issues, has contributed over $53,000 to Democratic candidates and the House Democrats’ campaign arm.