Nick Nyhart, Executive Director of Public Campaign, sent a letter today to Senator Patrick Leahy requesting that the Senate Judiciary Committee investigate Senator John Ashcroft’s commitment to enforcing federal campaign finance laws. Mr Nyhart also asked that the committee examine the conflicts of interest Senator Ashcroft would face as the head of an agency taking actions affecting interest groups from which he has been a major recipient of campaign donations. Mr. Nyhart cited in his letter allegations of Senator Ashcroft’s violation of campaign laws, his objections to campaign finance reform legislation and his history as a prodigious fundraiser from lobbying interests.

“There are several serious questions that must be answered by Senator Ashcroft during his confirmation hearing,” said Nyhart. “Did he or did he not violate the law during his past campaigns? Can he as the Attorney General enforce campaign laws that he is adamantly, and publicly, against? How can the American people be confident that his decisions on corporations that have issues pending with the Department of Justice will not be affected by the hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions he has received from them?”

“The Senate must not hastily confirm Senator Ashcroft without fully investigating the allegations of these illegal practices, his past responsiveness to campaign contributors and his willingness to enforce campaign finance laws,” continued Nyhart. “As a Senator, Ashcroft has never been shy in accepting large contributions from special interest groups and aggressively championing their causes. Will these same practices now be instituted at the Department of Justice?”

Public Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working on behalf of comprehensive campaign finance reform.