Petrelis Files

IRS Files on Abramoff Charity, Pam Abramoff's Donations to Bush

In September 2004, the Washington Post ran an excellent and very informative front-page article on Jack Abramoff's 501(c)3 charity, the Capital Athletic Foundation, and the numerous ethical questions raised related to the nonprofit.

As terrific as the Post story was, it didn't tell readers how they can read the IRS 990 filings on the web for Abramoff's foundation. To read the three most recent IRS 990's for his charity, which are posted on the Guide Star site, go here. (Registration required, and worth it!)

While I hate to tar Abramoff's wife Pamela with any legal or moral guilt based on her husband's myriad troubles, I feel it's okay to examine her money trail because she was co-director of the Capital Athletic Foundation.

No surprise here. She made dozens of donations over the years, all to GOP candidates or PACs, according to her Federal Election Commission file, as posted on the PoliticalMoneyLine site, including $3,000 to the Bush/Cheney campaigns in 2000 and 2004, along with a $5,000 to their recount 527 committee in 2000.

ABRAMOFF, PAMELA C MRS.
6/20/2003
$2,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
HOMEMAKER[Contribution]
BUSH-CHENEY '04 (PRIMARY) INC

ABRAMOFF, PAMELA
6/30/1999
$1,000.00
WASHINGTON, DC 20006
PRESTON GATES ELLIS[Contribution]
BUSH FOR PRESIDENT INC

Abramoff, Pamela C
11/27/2000
$5,000.00
Silver Spring, MD 20901
Preston Gates Ellis[Contribution to a 527 organization]
Bush-Cheney 2000, Inc-Recount Fund

Question: Does the Bush White House feel any moral need to turn over Pamela's donations to a legitimate charity, like they are doing with the amounts donated by Jack?