Simmons To Donate DeLay Donations.

After resisting Democratic calls to return contributions by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's PAC, Rep. Rob Simmons, R-Conn., has changed course and announced plans to donate the money to charity, the New London Day reported. Simmons agreed to give up $39,500, the amount equal to what he has received from DeLay's Americans for a Republican Majority PAC over Simmons' three terms in Congress. Simmons Chief of Staff Todd Mitchell did not say if lobbyist Jack Abramoff's guilty plea was a factor in the decision. "In light of all the events that have taken place, Rob felt this was the right thing to do and this was the right time to do it," Mitchell said Tuesday. Simmons' challenger, Democratic attorney Joseph Courtney, was critical of the gesture's timing. "Rob, like many other Republicans are, is belatedly trying to cut [his] ties to DeLay," Courtney said. "I just don't think he gets any credit for doing this in the wake of DeLay and Abramoff."