Millions in debt for fraud, Oregon businessman still generous to GOP

Nigel Jaquiss of Willamette Week reported that Craig Berkman, a former Oregon Republican Party chairman, was found in a civil lawsuit to have defrauded some of Portland’s wealthiest investors out of millions of dollars and was ordered to repay $28 million. Despite the lawsuit and ailing personal finances, Berkman continued to give generous political contributions to Sen. John McCain and others. He maxed out his donations to McCain and gave $23,990 to the Republican National Committee on May 29 — three weeks after his fraud trial began, and two weeks before the jury’s verdict.