Toomey for Senate

For Immediate Release—July 26, 2010

Contact: Nachama Soloveichik • Communications Director • 484.809.7994 •  646.528.1029
Contact: Kristin Anderson • Deputy Communications Director • 484.809.7994 • 612.280.5196
Contact: Tim Kelly • Press Secretary • 484.809.7994

Allentown, PA – After a week of listening to Congressman Sestak offer ridiculous excuses and explanations for violating his pledge to return earmark-related contributions, the Pennsylvania press corps has an opportunity today to demand answers from Congressman Sestak. 

Here are some of the questions that need to be answered:

Question #1: Why did Congressman Sestak tell the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he “never intended to publicize his donation-return policy” when he posted the pledge under the ethics section of his campaign website?

Question #2: Why is Congressman Sestak amending and qualifying his pledge to a specific time period after posting it on his campaign website with no qualifications for months?  If it is wrong to take contributions from people who are receiving earmarks through your congressional office in June, why isn’t it wrong to take those contributions in August?

Question #3: Why did Congressman Sestak tell the Philadelphia Daily News that he “did not know the names of the contributors who had received earmarks” when one of the contributors hosted a fundraiser for Sestak in his house just a couple of weeks ago?

Question #4: Why did Congressman Sestak tell WILK FM radio host Sue Henry that he returned all the contributions he received during the “appropriations process” except $300 from a professor when the Philadelphia Inquirer found at least $22,000 he had kept and a quick search on OpenSecrets.com unearths the following contributions:

Michael Piasecki, President, Dragonfly Pictures Inc., $9,500
Gregory Piasecki, CFO, Dragonfly Pictures Inc., $11,800
George Cornelius, President/CEO, Arkema Inc., $2,300
Charles Wardlaw, Vice President, Arkema Inc., $250
Jean H. McManus, President, Peak Beam Systems, $9,300
Annie McManus, Director of Marketing, Peak Beam Systems, $3,000
Robert Schena, CEO, Rajant Corp, $4,700
Frank N. Piasecki, Founder, Piasecki Aircraft, $4,600
Frederick Piasecki, Chairman of the Board & CTO, Piasecki Aircraft, $4,600
John W. Piasecki, Vice-President, Piasecki Aircraft, $5,600
Lockheed Martin PAC, $7,500
Harshad Mehta, President & CEO, Silicon Power Corporation, $3,400
William P. Loftus, CEO, Gestalt LLC, $4,800
William P. Loftus, Managing Director, Accenture National Security Services, $4,700

Question #5: Why does Congressman Sestak demand accountability from everyone except himself?  After talking about “accountability,” shouldn’t Congressman Sestak hold himself accountable and return his earmark-related contributions?

Question #6: If Congressman Sestak explicitly violates his own pledge on his campaign website and refuses to fulfill it when he is caught red-handed, how can Pennsylvania voters trust anything he says?

“For a week now, Congressman Sestak has offered ridiculous explanations and excuses instead of serious answers as to why he broke his pledge,” Toomey Communications Director Nachama Soloveichik said.  “Today, as Congressman Sestak addresses the Pennsylvania press corps, it is high time for him to hold himself to the same accountability standard he demands of everyone else.”