McCarthy to donate PMA campaign funds to charity

WASHINGTON - Under fire from the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy Monday said she'll give to charity the $53,700 she received in campaign cash from the tainted PMA Group lobbying firm.

McCarthy, a Mineola Democrat, made the announcement after the NRCC began attacking her for taking the PMA contributions while at the same time sponsoring $4.3 million in earmarks for two of its clients.

But it turns out the NRCC also took money from PMA's founder - $20,000 in the last three election cycles, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

NRCC spokesman Tory Mazzola declined to say if his group also would give back the funds.

McCarthy denies she knew what PMA was up to. "McCarthy has always followed the rules and procedures for campaigns," her spokeswoman Aprill Turner said Monday.

Turner said McCarthy decided to give back the funds after reports that Paul Magliocchetti, founder of the now-defunct PMA firm, will plead guilty Friday to charges of making illegal campaign donations. His son Mark pleaded guilty shortly after they were charged in August.

The PMA scandal involved a "pay to play" scheme in which the firm made donations to lawmakers who won earmarks for its clients. No members of Congress tied to PMA have faced criminal or ethical charges.

McCarthy sponsored earmarks with $1.8 million for PMA client Premier Micronutrient Corp. of Nashville, working with the Long Island firm Tischon in 2007 and 2008, the New York Daily News reported. She also sponsored a $2.5 million earmark for PMA client ITT Defense Systems in 2008.

"I think that its important to people to know about it," said her GOP challenger, Nassau County Legis. Francis Becker.