CBSNews.com headline contradicted article on candidates' plans for Wyatt money

CBSNews.com headlined a September 18 Politico article on Senate campaign contributions from Texas oilman Oscar Wyatt, "Clinton Keeping Controversial Donor's Cash," with the sub-head, "Politico: Other Candidates Returning Donations From Oilman with Saddam Ties." But contrary to the headline's suggestion, the article reported that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) did not say he would immediately return Wyatt's donations, but would do so "if Oscar Wyatt is convicted" of the charges against him. The article further reported, not that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) was "keeping" the Wyatt contribution, but that Clinton's "spokesman did not respond to questions about whether her Senate campaign would return the contributions."

The article, posted at politico.com, originally contained the headline, "Biden Returns Cash, Hillary Doesn't," referring to Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr.'s (D-DE) decision to donate the contribution he received from Wyatt to charity, but ignoring other candidates besides Biden and Clinton entirely.

As the Politico noted, "Wyatt, an 83-year-old World War II vet, was indicted in 2005 on fraud and conspiracy charges related to illegal payments for oil contracts from the Saddam-led Iraqi government under the United Nations' oil-for-food program." Wyatt had, "years ago," according to the article, donated to the campaigns of Biden, Clinton, McCain, and "dozens of others." The Politico reported that Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), the only candidate to receive money from Wyatt for his current presidential bid, "said he'd give to charity the $2,300 he got from Oscar Wyatt after Politico alerted him of the contribution and of Wyatt's indictment."

The Politico reported that McCain's spokesman said of Wyatt's previous $6,000 in contributions to "his 2000 presidential run and his 1998 Senate reelection campaign": "Should Mr. Wyatt be found guilty of a crime in the oil-for-food case, we will of course give the money to charity." Of Wyatt's contributions to Clinton, the article reported:

The nearly $5,000 Clinton accepted from the Wyatts dates from her 2000 and 2006 Senate campaigns. But her spokesman did not respond to questions about whether her Senate campaign would return the contributions.

Additionally, the Politico reported that Republican presidential candidate Sen. Sam Brownback (KS) also had previously "accepted $1,000 in 1996 from" Wyatt's wife, Lynn, and that "[h]is campaign did not respond to questions about whether he'd return the money if Oscar Wyatt is convicted."

From the September 18 Politico article:

Joe Biden is donating to charity a contribution from a Houston oilman on trial for charges related to paying kickbacks to Saddam Hussein, and John McCain says he'll follow if Oscar Wyatt is convicted. But Hillary Rodham Clinton would make no such pledge.

Sens. Biden (D-Del.), McCain (R-Ariz.) and Clinton (D-N.Y.) years ago accepted thousands of dollars for previous campaigns from Wyatt, an opinionated self-made billionaire, and his wife, Lynn, as did dozens of others.

Wyatt, an 83-year-old World War II vet, was indicted in 2005 on fraud and conspiracy charges related to illegal payments for oil contracts from the Saddam-led Iraqi government under the United Nations' oil-for-food program.

In an unusual move, a Wyatt spokesman, responding to a Politico story, e-mailed reporters urging "any politicians who want to return those funds received from [Wyatt]" to instead donate them to DeBakey Medical Foundation in Houston.

Mark Paustenbach, a spokesman for Biden's presidential campaign, did not know to which charity his boss' Senate campaign committee would donate the $1,000 it accepted from Wyatt in 1995.

"It was an isolated contribution," he said. "We have no idea why it was made, but we're giving it away."

McCain spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said it is important to note the $6,000 McCain accepted from the Wyatts was not to his current presidential campaign. It was during his 2000 presidential run and his 1998 Senate reelection campaign.

Still, she said, "Should Mr. Wyatt be found guilty of a crime in the oil-for-food case, we will of course give the money to charity."

The nearly $5,000 Clinton accepted from the Wyatts dates from her 2000 and 2006 Senate campaigns. But her spokesman did not respond to questions about whether her Senate campaign would return the contributions.

[...]

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat and the only presidential candidate to take the Wyatts' cash for his 2008 campaign, quickly said he'd give to charity the $2,300 he got from Oscar Wyatt after Politico alerted him of the contribution and of Wyatt's indictment.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), who is seeking the GOP presidential nomination, accepted $1,000 in 1996 from Lynn Wyatt. His campaign did not respond to questions about whether he'd return the money if Oscar Wyatt is convicted.