Sunday, September 03, 2006

Jerry Weller, Phone Sex Contributors, and Favors Done

A very interesting article in the Herald News, a suburban Chicago newspaper, has come to my attention. It seems that Republican rightwinger Jerry Weller, Representative from IL-11, has accepted money from a phone sex service owner--and may have returned the favor many times over:
U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller accepted a campaign contribution from the owner of a phone-sex operation, his election opponent's campaign reported Thursday.

A Weller spokesman acknowledged the donation, but downplayed its significance.

With just more than two months until the Nov. 7 general election, the 11th Congressional District race is heating up between six-term incumbent Weller, a Morris Republican, and former CIA intelligence officer John Pavich, a Beecher Democrat.

Pavich's office issued a press release stating Weller accepted contributions from Jeffrey Prosser, a "phone sex operator" in April 2005. The statement alleges Prosser paid Weller because Weller went to Belize and attempted to reverse the seizure of a Belizean telephone company Prosser owned. Weller's office says the trip was related to his work and was not personal.

"It now appears that Mr. Weller will accept cash from anyone and will pay it back tenfold," said Pavich's campaign manager, Matt Pavich. "I guess that if the voters of the 11th (District) want representation from this congressman, they better pay up first."

Prosser declared bankruptcy this month, Matt Pavich said.
Press the issue, John. We're going to make IL-11 competitive--and take a seat from the Republicans.

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