John McCain’s campaign has donated to charity the donations of a Republican fundraiser who was found guilty in civil court of fraud.
Craig Berkman, a venture capitalist who has raised thousands of dollars for McCain and the Republican National Committee, was sued by investment partners after admitting that he had lent himself $5 million of their money without telling them.
McCain spokesman Brian Rogers said Berkman’s problems were overlooked by a “skeleton staff . . . obviously focused on winning primaries.”
“When we learned of the jury verdict earlier this month, the campaign donated Mr. Berkman’s contribution to the American Red Cross for Midwest flood relief and recovery,” Rogers said in an e-mail.
Berkman’s donations have angered former investors, who won in court but have not seen a penny of the $28 million in civil damages awarded.
