Democratic watchdogs cry foul play

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August 1, 2007

Congresswoman denies claims of foul play in fundraising

By KIM SMITH DEDAM The Press Republican Wed Aug 01, 2007, 12:00 AM EDT

LAKE PLACID "" A watchdog agency tracking key Democratic lawmakers claims Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand may have violated campaign finance law.

A press release sent Tuesday by the Majority Accountability Project says Gillibrand's July 17 Federal Elections Commission filing did not report expenses for overseas fundraising events held last April at London's Covent Garden Hotel and at a private home in Paris.

In a telephone interview, Majority Accountability Project spokesman Michael Brady called a missing receipt for a posh London hotel fundraiser "odd."

"She declared no expenses for those events. There had to be expenses. You don't get a free hotel," Brady said. "She may have an explanation for it, but it certainly strikes me as odd."

Gillibrand spokeswoman Rachel McEneny, in Saratoga Springs, did have an explanation.

A group of the congresswoman's college friends who work overseas planned a get-together while the Gillibrands visited family in London. Gillibrand's husband is British.

"Some of her college friends sent invitations to alumni "" all U.S. citizens, they all have passports. They do vote," McEneny said.

Finance consultant Paulette Aniskoff paid the hotel expense, McEneny said.

"And it is in the FEC report."

Gillibrand's July 17, 2007, filing shows numerous disbursements to Aniskoff, including $8,945 on April 1, a few days before the London event.

Brady's group also took issue with the amount of campaign support for Gillibrand (D-Glens Falls) coming from the San Francisco area, alleging it derives from a political connection with Bay Area Congresswoman and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.

Brady said he didn't know if the donations were directly related to Pelosi.

"I don't know. As Bob Dylan said, You don't have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing.'"

McEneny said the Majority Accountability Project implied cash donations were floating around the London event.

"They're wrong," she said.

Gillibrand raised about $20,000 in London, with most contributions made via U.S. checking accounts. Between $5,000 and $6,000 of that was from U.S. citizens with U.K. accounts.

The Paris event was held at a private home, McEneny said.

To date, Gillibrand has raised $1.1 million toward re-election.

Four Republicans have announced bids to run for Gillibrand's 20th congressional district seat in 2008: Alexander "Sandy" Treadwell of Lake Placid, Richard Wager of New York City, Michael Rocque of Clifton Park and John Wallace of Chatham.

Morris Guller, a retired stockbroker from Lexington, has indicated he will challenge Gillibrand in the Democratic primary.

kdedam@pressrepublican.com