Lunsford campaign flaunts McConnell’s placement on group's ‘most corrupt’ list

The campaign of Democratic Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford pounced on the news that its opponent, U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville), was included on the latest installment of a list claiming to name the ‘most corrupt members of Congress.’

“This report confirms what we all know about Mitch McConnell – he’s corrupt. Kentucky deserves better. Don’t get McConned again!” said Cary Stemle, Lunsford’s spokesperson in a statement touting the news.

The bipartisan list of 24 members of Congress is compiled annually by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. That organization purports to detail the “unethical and illegal activities” of those on the list.

“With soaring gas prices, a housing market in crisis, rising unemployment, and a nation at war, elected officials should be prioritizing their constituents’ needs over their own self-interests. Unfortunately, the members of Congress listed in CREW’s Most Corrupt report have decided that their personal needs are paramount to those they represent,” said CREW executive director Melanie Sloan in a release.

McConnell’s appearance on the list is his second in as many years. A report compiled by the organization claims McConnell landed on the list due to “ethics issues” including “earmarks he inserted into legislation for clients of his former chief of staff in exchange for campaign contributions as well as the misuse of his nonprofit McConnell Center for Political Leadership at the University of Louisville.”

McConnell is not under investigation for any violations.

Still, the 12-page report attempts to outline connections between a lobbying firm headed by former McConnell chief of staff Gordon Hunter Bates and earmarks allegedly secured by McConnell for Bates’ clients. The CREW report claims McConnell violated statutes if it can be demonstrated that there existed a quid pro quo relationship between campaign contributions made by Bates’ clients and the earmarks.