DEMOCRATIC STATE PARTY CHAIR RAY BUCKLEY CALLS ON SUNUNU TO RETURN DIRTY MONEY FROM LOBBYING FIRM DCI GROUP INVOLVED IN MYANMAR

For Immediate Release
May 14, 2008

Group has worked on behalf of Myanmar's oppressive military regime, consulted on 2002 phone jamming scandal

(Concord, NH) - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley today called on Senator John E. Sununu to return $2,250 in donations from the disgraced Republican lobbying firm DCI Group. The group made headlines recently due to a Myanmar scandal and revelations that they had accepted $348,000 to lobby on behalf of Myanmar's military junta, and the firm also has a history of unethical activity in New Hampshire as its employees were consulted during the 2002 New Hampshire phone-jamming scandal.

"Senator Sununu should return this dirty money from DCI, a lobbying firm that worked for Myanmar's oppressive military regime that even now is blocking humanitarian aid to its own people," said Buckley. "DCI has a long history of unethical activity dating back to the 2002 phone jamming scandal. New Hampshire expects better from their Senator than taking dirty money from a group that supports oppressive military juntas and conspires to illegally suppress voter turnout in New Hampshire."

Sununu has accepted $2,250 from DCI Group, including $500 from co-founder Doug Goodyear and $250 from Douglas Davenport, both of whom recently resigned posts as top aides to John McCain amid the Myanmar scandal. [Open Secrets, accessed 5/13/08; MSNBC, 5/12/08]

Sununu also accepted $500 from DCI principal Tom Synhorst during his 2002 campaign. DCI employee James Tobin was convicted of crimes related to the phone jamming scandal, and former New Hampshire GOP Chair and convicted felon Chuck McGee said he consulted with DCI Group employee Brian McCabe during the 2002 New Hampshire phone jamming scandal. [Union Leader, 8/11/06]