Washington, DC - Vice President Dick Cheney's top aide may be the focus of a federal criminal grand jury investigation, but it's not stopping him from raising thousands of dollars in special interest money for Colorado Republican candidate Rick O'Donnell. Cheney is headlining a reception to benefit O'Donnell's congressional race today at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium.

Cheney's fundraiser follows the booking and arraignment of former Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay last week and the news that President Bush's Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove was forced to cancel three events this month, including political fundraisers in Connecticut and Virginia, because of the criminal investigation into his own role in revealing Valerie Plame's identity. [Associated Press, 10/17/05]

Colorado State Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak today issued the following statement:

"It's troubling that as criminal investigations loom over Cheney's staff and the Republican leadership in Washington, Rick O'Donnell is willing to look the other way and bring this cloud of corruption to Colorado," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Pat Waak. "If O'Donnell wants Coloradoans to trust him, he should be distancing himself from the culture of corruption, not profiting from it. Colorado can do better. America can do better.

"O'Donnell should be denouncing the culture of corruption that has become the trademark of the Republican leadership in Washington, not cozying up to it. O'Donnell should cancel this fundraiser and pledge to join Democrats in working for cleaner government."