Mark Tapscott and Cheryl K. Chumley, The Examiner
2007-09-21 07:00:00.0
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WASHINGTON -

Contributions from lawyers and law firms make up a significant source of funding for candidates seeking the White House, but the money sometimes comes with more headaches than it might be worth.

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards — himself a former trial lawyer — is having to get rid of $4,600 in contributions received from William Lerach, the securities lawsuit lawyer who pleaded guilty in a federal kickback investigation earlier this week.

Edwards is giving that money to charity. But Edwards hasn’t said yet what he will do with the $81,000 in contributions he received from other members of Lerach’s firm, contributions that were “bundled” or solicited by Lerach. Edwards may also have to decide what to do with contributions received from members of Lerach’s family.

 A related problem for Edwards is what he will do, if anything, with the $2,000 contribution he received in 2004 from Melvyn Weiss, head of the Milberg Weiss law firm at the heart of the federal investigation that snared Lerach.

Weiss’ firm said Wednesday it expected him to be named in a new indictment as part of the federal investigation that last year saw a 20-count indictment filed against the firm and several of its named partners. Weiss was widely reported to be the unnamed “Partner A” or “Partner B” in that indictment.

Weiss has long been a prolific donor to Democratic office-holders and seekers, as well as to the party’s major campaign groups like the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Recipients of his nearly $621,000 in personal contributions during the past decade, according to OpenSecrets.org, have included Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer of New York, senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry of Massachusetts, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. Weiss gave  $215,000 to the DNC between 1994 and 1996 and, more recently, $26,700 to the DSCC for the 2006 campaign.

It should also be noted that an OpenSecrets.org listing of the top five states’ donations topresidential candidates ranked as follows: California and New York, with contributions at $20 million each; Texas, with $8 million; Florida, with $7 million; and Illinois, $6 million.

Three of these states — Texas, Florida and Illinois — met the criteria for listing on the most recent of American Tort Reform Association’s yearly compilation of Judicial Hellholes.

Between them, William Lerach and Melvyn Weiss gave more than $2 million in political contributions during the past decade at the federal level, virtually all of it going to Democratic officials, candidates and organizations. Lerach entered into a plea bargain earlier this week admitting guilt in an $11 million kickback scheme the Justice Department said involved more than 150 cases. Weiss’ firm also released a statement saying it expects him to be indicted in the same investigation.

"Lawyers Gone Wild" is a series of special reports by The Examiner looking at the cost and consequences of class action lawsuit abuse in the United States. Read the latest articles in the series.

Kings of influence dethroned

Selected contributions by William Lerach*

Democratic National Committee: $525,000

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: $9,525

Edward Kennedy for Senate: $8,000

John Edwards for President: $4,600

Friends of Hillary Clinton: $3,100

Biden for President: $2,700

Gephardt for President: $2,000

Selected contributions by Melvyn Weiss*

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: $39,575

DNC Services Corp.: $5,000

Rep. Charles Rangel: $4,600

Sen. Hillary Clinton: $4,174

Sen. Bill Nelson: $4,140

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee: $3,500

Sen. John Edwards: $2,000

Sen. Barack Obama: $1,000

* Donations between 2002–07

Source: OpenSecrets.org/FEC data