Lance sees a double standard in Stender donation returns

By Matt Friedman, PolitickerNJ.com Reporter

State Sen. Leonard Lance’s congressional campaign yesterday questioned why his Democratic rival, Assemblywoman Linda Stender, was so quick to give her campaign donations back to former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, but has kept larger donations from U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.).

Rangel has faced scrutiny for leasing four rent stabilized apartments in his Harlem home district—one of which he uses as a campaign office and pays for with campaign funds. Cohen resigned from his Assembly seat on Monday amid allegations that he had child pornography on a legislative office computer.

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has tried to make the powerful House Ways and Means Committee chairman a liability to every candidate he’s supported, and Lance has hammered away at Stender for on the issue for the last few weeks.

"It took Linda Stender five days to give back the $6,000 donated to her by Assemblyman Neil Cohen. But it has been 21 days since Stender fundraiser and supporter Rep. Charlie Rangel was reported to be under investigation for sweetheart housing deals and unethical fundraising practices. Linda Stender should continue to cleanse herself of all of her questionable campaign contributions and return the more than $20,000 she received from Rangel and cancel her fundraiser with him," said Lance Campaign Manager Amanda Woloshen.

Matt Friedman is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at matt@politicsnj.com.

Related topics: Linda Stender, Neil Cohen, NJ-07, Leonard Lance, Charlie Rangel

If you liked this article, subscribe to The Wake-Up Call. It's FREE!

Email this Article