Tribe Turns Down Burns' Offer Of Abramoff-Connected Money.

The Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council has rejected a $111,000 donation from the campaign of Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., the council's vice chairman told the Associated Press. James Steele Jr., chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, said Tuesday evening that the council voted not to accept the donation, which was made up of contributions from lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his associates and his tribal clients. Steele declined to elaborate on the reasons why the council rejected the money. Burns said in December that he would give away and return $146,700 in donations to avoid the appearance of improper connections to Abramoff, who pleaded guilty two weeks ago to federal corruption charges. Abramoff admitted to conspiring to defraud Indian tribes, which he sometimes directed to make contributions to lawmakers.