UPDATE: LOBBYIST’S DONATIONS

The White House has announced that the American Heart Association will receive $6,000 that had been donated to President Bush’s re-election campaign by organizations represented by Jack Abramoff, the lobbyist who pled guilty to corruption charges this week, reports the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Abramoff’s fund-raising efforts produced more than $100,000 for the re-election campaign, but the Republican National Committee plans to keep the remainder. Other political figures who benefited from money raised through Mr. Abramoff have also announced intentions to donate part or all of the funds, including Sen. Dick Durban, Democrat of Illinois, who will donate $11,000 to the American Indian Center of Chicago and the American Indian Health Service of Chicago.

Also: Gov. Robert L. Erlich Jr., Republican of Maryland, had promised on Wednesday to give $16,000 of his campaign contributions from Mr. Abramoff to the Helping Up Mission, in Baltimore, but later said that a state law would prevent the donation, reports The Washington Post. Gov. Erlich has since returned the money to Mr. Abramoff.