Torricelli leverages campaign funds

Former U.S. Sen. Robert G. Torricelli has been dispensing left-over campaign money to causes near and dear to his financial and political interests.

Torricelli left office in 2002, after the Senate Ethics Committee admonished him for accepting gifts from a contributor. According to the New York Times, he then founded a lobbying firm, Rosemont Associates, whose clients include the government of Taiwan and the owner of Cablevision.

Rather than returning cash from his campaign fund to donors or giving it to charity, he has doled out contributions to other campaigns, later approaching office holders on behalf of his clients.

Torricelli’s filings with the Federal Election Commission show that he has contributed to the following candidates in 2006-2007:

• Max Baucus
• Luis Fortuno
• Tom Vilsack
• Linda Stender
• Jill Derby
• Tessa Michelle Hafen

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