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http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D89SL7I80.htmlBy SUZANNE GAMBOA / Associated Press
Three major companies say they no longer make contributions to a legal fund for Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who has been bombarded for months with allegations of ethical misconduct.
The companies had contributed $15,000 to the Texas Republican since 2000. The companies are American Airlines, Verizon and Nissan North America Inc.
"American Airlines does not intend to make any future contributions to Representative DeLay's legal defense fund," the Fort Worth, Texas-based airline said in a statement. "The $5,000 contribution, made three years ago, was done by an individual who is no longer part of American Airlines."
Verizon, which donated $5,000 in 2001, said it has had a policy since that year against contribution to legal defense funds. Nissan North America gave $5,000 in July 2001, but said it has not made any additional contributions and won't make any more. "We do not plan to seek a refund," company spokesman Fred Standish said in a statement.
The companies issued the statements this week to American Progress Action Fund, a project of the Center for American Progress, a liberal Washington think tank. American Progress launched a campaign April 6 to stop the contributions from the companies and two others, Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. and RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co.
American Progress posted a message on its Web site that readers can quickly fill in and send from the site to any of the companies. Messages to RJ Reynolds had to be mailed because the company is blocking e-mail from American Progress' site, said Judd Legum, American Progress research director.
DeLay told reporters Wednesday he was untroubled by the groups' efforts.
"You really think a lobbyist group like that is going to have an effect on me and what I am trying to accomplish here?" DeLay said.
Other companies have contributed more than $300,000 to DeLay's legal fund since 2000, but Legum said his group only targeted the five major companies.
"The issue here is not whether people should have a defense fund. The issue is should consumers have to indirectly fund Tom DeLay's legal defense," Legum said.