toledoblade.com --

COLUMBUS - An activist group called on President Bush yesterday to disclose the sources of all campaign contributions collected by former Toledo-area coin dealer Tom Noe, lobbyist Jack Abramoff, and other Bush "Pioneers" and "Rangers" convicted, indicted, or under investigation on corruption allegations.

"The President should not fall victim to the Nixonian tendency to keep bad things secret," said Ned Wigglesworth, analyst for TheRestofUs.org, a watchdog group based in California. "He owes it to himself and the American people to disclose this information so the public can take a closer look at the Pioneers."

In October, a federal grand jury in Toledo indicted Mr. Noe on charges he laundered donations into Mr. Bush's re-election campaign. He has pleaded not guilty. State officials have accused the former Maumee coin dealer of stealing at least $4 million from the rare-coin investment he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation.

Mr. Noe attained the elite status of a Bush Pioneer in 2004 by raising at least $100,000 for President Bush's re-election campaign.

Mr. Abramoff, a disgraced Washington lobbyist who also was a Pioneer, pleaded guilty this week to charges of conspiracy, fraud, and tax evasion. Authorities say Mr. Abramoff - who has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in a widening Capitol Hill corruption scandal - influenced lawmakers and their aides with campaign contributions, expensive meals, and trips, including golf outings in Scotland.

Aaron McLear, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, noted that federal law does not require campaigns to disclose who their fund-raisers collect contributions from. The campaign contributions are disclosed to the Federal Elections Commission.

"The Bush-Cheney '04 campaign went above and beyond disclosure expectations," said Mr. McLear, who said he did not know if the information TheRestofUs.org wants is available. "Additionally, all of that information is public and is available on the FEC Web site."

Chris Redfern, chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party, said state and federal campaigns should be required to immediately disclose all of the details of their bundling practices, such as the names of fund-raisers and the sources of the money they collected.

Mr. Redfern, a state representative from Ottawa County, said Democrats have been calling for a legislative committee to investigate corruption in Ohio so they can subpoena a number of documents, including political bundling lists. "Any way we can get at that solid information and the truth is the best for all of us," Mr. Redfern said.

Mr. Wigglesworth, the analyst for TheRestofUs.org, said the indictment of Mr. Noe raises the question of whether other Bush Pioneers and Rangers illegally funneled money to contributors.

Mr. McLear, the RNC spokesman, rejected that notion, saying: "You could probably look at folks who contribute to the other side and look at their legal problems. It's not systematic."

Staff Writer Joshua Boak contributed to this report.

Contact James Drew at:
jdrew@theblade.com
or 614-221-0496.

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