Bush to donate campaign money raised by controversial lobbyist

WASHINGTON (AFP) — US President George W. Bush will donate to charity money that was raised for his re-election campaign by a top lobbyist who has pleaded guilty to fraud charges, the White House said.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan told reporters Bush did not know lobbyist Jack Abramoff, a Washington powerbroker who pleaded guilty Tuesday in a case that has Congress on edge.

In a plea deal in which he pleaded guilty to conspiracy, fraud and tax evasion, Abramoff, who is close to Bush's Republican majority, agreed to testify against former congressional associates.

"The president doesn't know him, he does not recall meeting him," McClellan said.

"It is possible that he could have met him at a holiday reception or some other widely attended event," he said, adding that Abramoff attended three ...