Defend Progressive Champion Jim McDermott

As part of our continuing work to confront congressional corruption, Campaign for America’s Future supporters in 2006 raised over $10,000 for the Legal Expense Trust of progressive champion, Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.

House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, attacked McDermott as a payback for successfully exposing and punishing Republican corruption.  Why the attack? McDermott had alerted the press about a tape-recorded discussion between Republican leaders — including Boehner and former Republican House leader Newt Gingrich — where they planned a direct violation of an ethics agreement. Boehner was recruited to sue Rep. McDermott in civil court for invading his "privacy."

By supporting McDermott, Campaign for America’s Future supporters helped challenge an ominous legal precedent that threatened to impede the flow of information on Congressional corruption to the press.