Photo United Tribes Technical College.

"Sen. Byron Dorgan�s decision to give back donations from American Indian tribes that were associated with lobbyist Jack Abramoff was correct. The North Dakota Democrat also is right to resist calls to recuse himself from an investigation of Abramoff�s lobbying activities.

Abramoff is under investigation by Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain�s Indian Affairs Committee. Dorgan is ranking member, and is one of about 60 senators who received money from tribes apparently at Abramoff�s behest. When Dorgan learned (in part because of an Associated Press story) that some $67,000 from several tribes was tied to Abramoff�s lobbying firm, he returned the money.

Dorgan and McCain have been going after Abramoff with extraordinary tenacity. If anything, revelation of the Abramoff-directed money to Dorgan hardened his resolve to get to the bottom of the lobbyist�s shady activities. Indeed, purveyors of Washington scuttlebutt suggested last week that the initial source of the AP stories was in Abramoff�s organization � the lobbyist�s attempt to tarnish Dorgan�s credibility and scuttle the committee�s work.

It didn�t work. Moreover, North Dakotans know Dorgan to be honorable and smart. Other than the usual gaggle of partisans, they understand he�s done the right thing regarding tribal money and the Abramoff investigation."

Get the Story:
Forum editorial: Dorgan did right thing with money (The Fargo Forum 12/18)
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Relevant Links:
Sen. Byron Dorgan - http://dorgan.senate.gov

Related Stories:
David Gipp: Dorgan a tireless advocate for Indians (12/16)
Bush seeks to link Jack Abramoff to Democrats (12/15)
Dorgan not affected by Abramoff donations (12/15)
Opinion: Dorgan comes clean but not on Clinton (12/15)
Dorgan returns money to avoid being tied to Abramoff (12/14)
Dorgan returns donations from Abramoff tribes (12/13)
Opinion: Dorgan a great friend to Indian Country (12/12)
Republicans plan to tie Democrats to Abramoff (12/08)
McCain expects 'lots' of indictments over Abramoff (12/5)
Mashpee lobbyists met with Dorgan several times (12/05)
Dorgan questioned as Abramoff probe continues (12/5)
Changes in tribal lobbying tactics discussed (12/5)
Dorgan accused of conflict in Abramoff probe (12/2)
Editorial: Dorgan 'tainted' in probe of Abramoff (12/2)
Opinion: Dorgan should come clean about probe (12/2)
Lawmakers deny letters influenced by Abramoff (12/02)
Dorgan vows to continue Abramoff lobbying probe (11/29)
Coushatta Tribe gave to Dorgan at Abramoff's request (11/29)
Bloomberg: Abramoff tribes gave $1.4M to Congress (05/19)
Dorgan received $47K from Abramoff's former clients (03/07)
Burns looking into Abramoff ties, Dorgan denies link (03/02)
Burns, Dorgan backed $3M grant for Abramoff client (03/01)
Dorgan is vice-chair of Indian Affairs Committee (01/14)