WASHINGTON — The thorny question of tainted contributions -- and how to check for them -- gripped several election campaigns Tuesday in the wake of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's decision to return $850,000 raised by disgraced political patron Norman Hsu.
In a campaign that has seen unprecedented sums raised, nearly every candidate has received money from unsavory sources. Most quickly return it. But the knotty question remains: How deeply should campaigns delve into the backgrounds of people who seek to become their new best friends?
Clinton's camp said Monday that they would begin conducting criminal background checks on major donors. Details are being worked out, but spokesman Howard Wolfson said the campaign would obtain permission from donors before conducting such a detailed check.
On Tuesday, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, among Clinton's rivals for the Democratic nomination, announced he also would start conducting criminal background checks on his top donors.
"We have always had an extensive vetting process for our raisers," said Edwards spokesman Eric Schultz. "But due to the recent events involving Norman Hsu and the Clinton campaign, and to err on the side of caution, we have begun doing criminal background checks as well."
Barack Obama's campaign, however, offered no change. The Illinois senator, a Democrat, raised $58 million in the first half of the year, more than all other candidates. Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the campaign would "continue to update our vetting procedures to best ensure we find any problems that could exist."
Earlier this year, Obama donated to charities about $40,000 that was raised by his longtime benefactor Antoin Rezko, who was indicted in October on federal public-corruption charges. But that was just a portion of the Rezko money: A review of Obama's campaign finance reports shows Rezko raised at least $160,000 -- and probably far more -- for the politician's campaigns dating to 1995.
Clinton's decision to return $850,000 and institute criminal background checks on major campaign fundraisers is likely to have ripple effects beyond presidential politics.
"It reminds people that a normal routine check doesn't give you the full facts," said Bob Mulholland, campaign advisor to the California Democratic Party. "Every campaign will take notice."
