MyUSTINET News: McCain To Return Unusual Donations

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- John McCain's U.S. presidential campaign said Thursday it would return donations raised by the Jordanian business partner of a prominent Florida fundraiser.

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Campaign finance records indicate that the Arizona senator, the probable Republican presidential nominee, collected more than $50,000 in March from members of a single extended family, the Abdullahs of California, and several of their friends. The New York Times reported.

The donations reportedly were collected by Harry Sargeant III, finance chairman of the Florida Republican Party and part-owner of a major oil trading firm. He said the actual soliciting of donations was done by a longtime business partner, Mustafa Abu Naba'a of Jordan.

"We are taking the precautionary effort of returning any and all contributions that were solicited by Mr. Abu Naba'a", said Brian Rogers, a campaign spokesman. "We had an issue with the idea there were people giving to the campaign who had no intention of voting for or supporting John McCain."

The Abdullah donations stand out in origin and size, the newspaper said. The checks came from unlikely inland addresses and several donors wrote checks of $9,200, exceeding the $2,300 limit for an individual campaign gift.

Some members of the family also donated to the campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani, the Times said. Some told the Times they did not care if McCain won, and some even said they hoped he would lose.

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