Senator Torricelli Apologizes for Being Caught Taking Gifts
Today's Newark Star-Legder reports that Senator Robert Torricelli's re-election campaign began a $1 million ad campaign yesterday where the Senator apologized for accepting gifts from a contributor. According to the article:
The {bi-partisan Senate Ethics Committee} found he had accepted a big-screen TV, a stereo, earrings and two bronze statues from Bergen County businessman David Chang, who wanted the senator's help lobbying Korean government officials. Chang is in prison for illegal campaign contributions.
U.S. Senate rules ban gifts worth more than $50.
According to the campaign manager for Douglas Forrester, Senator Torricelli's opponent in the November election, "Mr. Torricelli will now unleash his propaganda machine to try to convince New Jersey voters he really didn't mean it when he said, 'I have never, ever, done anything at any time to betray the trust of the people of New Jersey. Never.'"