Reichert, McMorris to donate Cunningham's dirty money to charity

Via the Associated Press:

Republican Reps. Cathy McMorris and Dave Reichert of Washington state said Monday they are donating to charity $1,000 given to each of their campaigns by a former California congressman who admitted taking more than $2 million in bribes.

McMorris and Reichert, who were each elected in 2004, said they will give away money contributed by former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., who resigned last week after pleading guilty to taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for steering government work to defense contractors.

More than a dozen Republican lawmakers and challengers, including Jim Feldkamp of Oregon, have said they are donating to charity the campaign cash given by Cunningham.

McMorris said in a news release late Monday she will give $1,000 received from Cunningham's political action committee to Second Harvest Inland Northwest, a Spokane-based food bank.

Reichert's chief of staff said Reichert will donate $1,000 to Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps seriously ill children and their families. The group has a chapter in Redmond, Wash.

Reichert and McMorris should be commended for doing the right thing and not keeping Cunningham's dirty, tainted money. It's good to see that they're doing the right thing.