Burns To Return Abramoff Money.

Reversing himself, Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., said he will return about $150,000 in campaign donations he has received from indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his co-workers and tribal clients, the Helena (Mont.) Independent Record reported today. Burns said Abramoff's donations, while "legal and fully disclosed, have served to undermine the public's confidence in its government." Burns, who is up for re-election in 2006, received more Abramoff-related campaign contributions than any other lawmaker between 1999 and 2004. The announcement comes just two days after a Burns spokesman said the senator would not return the money because it had already been spent. The reimbursements will come from his $3 million campaign treasury. Burns said he will return the money to its original donors, except for the thousands contributed from Abramoff and his associates. That money Burns will donate to a Native American charity. Burns has come under scrutiny for helping Abramoff's clients around the time he received donations from the lobbyist, his associates or clients. In addition, some of his former aides left to take jobs with Abramoff.