The Illinois GOP continues to call out the state's two U.S. senators, Democrats Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, for refusing to distance themselves from campaign donations they received from embattled Minnesota Sen. Al Franken.
Franken, a Democrat, is facing a congressional ethics investigation over groping and kissing a reporter against her will, as well as allegations from other women.
In response, several Democratic lawmakers have donated campaign funds they received from Franken to charities in an effort to disassociate themselves from the senator.
Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin
Two examples of Democratics doing so are Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin. McCaskill donated her $30,000 donation to a Missouri food bank, while Baldwin gave $20,000 to a group benefiting women veterans in Wisconsin.
“But what are Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth doing with their campaign contributions from Al Franken?,” asks the Illinois GOP in a Nov. 28 statement. “They're keeping his dirty money. Both have received $5,000 and $21,000, respectively, but they've been silent on whether or not they will return the money or give it away to Illinois charities.”
The two Illinois senators acted quickly to call Franken's alleged behavior "wrong" and "unacceptable," according to the Illinois GOP, but they failed to follow their words with deeds.
”Dick Durbin even dodged questions on whether Al Franken should resign and hasn't said a word about what he will do with his campaign cash from Franken,” the Republican Party statement says.
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