Hill says Sodrel should return money

By DAVID MANN
David.Mann@newsandtribune.com

Democratic congressional candidate Baron Hill is calling on Republican opponent Mike Sodrel to return what he’s referring to as “immoral money” received indirectly from disgraced former Congressman Mark Foley and Republican House leadership.

Sodrel called that request “ridiculous.”

Foley, R- Fla., recently resigned his Florida seat after ABC News reported the congressman was engaging in sexually explicit e-mails and instant messages with a 16-year-old congressional page. Foley chaired the House Caucus on Missing and Exploited Children.

Hill held a press conference in Jeffersonville on Tuesday to make his case.

The basis of his claim: Foley had contributed $500,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee. Sodrel has received both campaign contribution and advertising from that committee — about $90,000 in contributions and $557,000 in television advertisement. Therefore, by Hill’s logic, Sodrel has indirectly been given Foley's money — which he says should be returned.

Read more on Sodrel's connection to Foley at the News-Tribune.