GOP Presses Democrats to Unload Weiner Campaign Donations

U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY) reacts as he speaks to the press in New York, June 6, 2011. Representative Anthony Weiner admitted on Monday to sending a lewd photo of himself to a 21-year-old female college student over his Twitter account after previously denying he had done so. REUTERS

Two rank and file House Democrats are taking donations received from Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-NY and donating them to charity in the wake of mounting Republican pressure after the embattled Congressman admitted to posting a lewd crotch photo to the Internet, deleting it and then lying by claiming he his account was hacked.

A Republican group calling Weiner's campaign donations 'tainted cash' on Tuesday called for 18 representatives in 13 states to give up thousands of dollars in donations. Meanwhile, 16 others on the group's list have yet to respond to a call to give up the money from Weiner's campaign donation vehicle.

On Monday, a married Weiner tearfully admitted on Monday to sending lewd and explicit photos to women he met online and lying about one specific incident involving a bulging underpants crotch picture of himself sent unsuspectingly on his public Twitter feed to 45,000 people. He immediately deleted the offending message and then claimed repeatedly for over a week in multiple national interviews that he had not sent the photo and that his account had been hacked.

Weiner is facing pressure from the House Democratic Party leader for an investigation and from a top House Republican leader calling for his resignation. Weiner has said he will keep his job as pressure mounts.

The members of congress face a choice between returning the scandal-tainted donations (they've) received from Congressman Weiner or silently condoning his colleague's lewd and bizarre behavior that could lead to a potential ethics violation, the National Republican Congressional Committee said on Tuesday.

The Committee's push took on a total of 18 candidates in 13 states.

Will Dems Return Embattled Congressman Weiner's Tainted Cash? a statement read.

Hours after the committee distributed the press release a pair of Ohio and Minnesota Representatives gave up funds received in 2010 and 2009 from the 'Friends of Weiner' campaign committee.

Rep. Betty Sutton, D-OH will make a $1,000 donation to local charities, including the Honor Flight Canton Akron, which helps transport veterans to visit memorials in Washington D.C., and Access, a homeless shelter for women and children in Summit County, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. She received a donation on April 23, 201, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Rep. Tim Walz, D-MN gave $3,000 in campaign donations to charity to a local chapter of the Disabled American Veterans, his campaign told CNN. Walz received $2000 on November 16, 2009 and $1000 on May 27, 2007.

The representatives come from Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The following is a list of by the NRCC and dollar amounts and dates given, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Most of the donations in question took place in 2010, although some go back as far as 2002. States and local district are identified.

Betty Sutton (OH-13) $1000 4/23/2010

Bill Owens (NY-23), $1000 on 3/26/2010

Gerry Connolly (VA-11) $1000 4/23/2010

Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) $1000 6/18/2005

Tim Holden (PA-17) $1000 3/13/2002

John Barrow (GA-12) $1000 6/18/2010

Brian Higgins (NY-27) $2000 6/29 2005, 9/21/2004 $1000, 6/30/2004 $1000

Jim Himes (CT-04) $1000 3/26/2010

Joe Donnelly (IL-02) $1000 7/07/2010

Kurt Schrader (OR-05) $1000 6/16/2010