Rhode Island AG Campaign Took Donations

Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick Lynch, left, makes a statement to the media following a verdict in the state's lead paint lawsuit, Feb. 22, 2006, in Providence, R.I. At right is former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse. Lynch accepted campaign contributions from the chief negotiator for DuPont Co. at the same time he was in talks with the company to drop it from the state's landmark lawsuit against former lead paint companies, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Stew Milne, File) (Stew Milne - AP)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- When Attorney General Patrick Lynch struck a deal with DuPont Co. to drop it from the landmark lead paint lawsuit in exchange for charity donations of about $12.5 million, he described it as an important victory for the state.

But on Thursday, the eve of the deal's one-year anniversary, a political opponent accused Lynch of influence peddling and conflict of interest as news emerged that Lynch took donations from the chief negotiator for DuPont while the deal was being worked out.

Bernard Nash, an attorney for DuPont, negotiated the deal, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press. Campaign documents filed with the state show that before and after the settlement was reached, Nash and his wife contributed $2,500 to Lynch's campaign.

The deal allowed DuPont to drop out of a lawsuit that may cost other companies billions of dollars. A jury in February decided that three of the remaining defendants were liable for creating a public nuisance by manufacturing and selling toxic products. The judge in the case has yet to decide how much, if anything, the companies must pay; an appeal is likely if the judge does not throw out the case or order a new trial.

On Thursday, the campaign of Bill Harsch, Lynch's Republican challenger in the November election, filed a complaint with the state Ethics Commission alleging conflict of interest and influence peddling, campaign coordinator Tom Shevlin said.

Harsch called the contributions and the state's deal with DuPont "completely inappropriate."

"These guys got off for $12 million that they have no written obligation to pay," he said.

Lynch said in a statement the complaint is "political opportunism at its worst" and "utterly baseless."

"I am the only Attorney General in the country to force DuPont to pay any amount, much less millions of dollars, to help protect children and make our homes and neighborhoods safer," Lynch said. He said he saw no reason to return the contributions, adding he looked forward to the complaint's "quick dismissal."

Nash called the complaint "rubbish."

"It defies logic. Would I put my career on the line at any price?" he said in a telephone interview, adding: "This is not big bucks."

He said the contributions were personal, and that he has given to attorneys general in Rhode Island and other states in the past.