Washington, DC – Campaign Money Watch, a nonpartisan campaign finance watchdog group, called on Republican Senate candidate Bob Schaffer to take immediate actions to acknowledge and apologize for his role in defending deplorable conditions on the Northern Mariana Islands after taking a $13,000 all expenses paid junket to the islands, where he met clients of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.

According to a Campaign Money Watch analysis of data provided by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Schaffer also took $9,400 in contributions from factory owners, politicians, and others from the Northern Marianas over his career.

“Instead of pointing a finger of blame at his opponent, Bob Schaffer ought to look at himself in the mirror, and come clean on his role in the Abramoff scandals that rocked the 2006 elections,” said David Donnelly, director of Campaign Money Watch. “He should immediately agree to support pending legislation to address the abuses on the islands, pledge to donate five percent of his campaign money to appropriate charities helping workers there, and sign the Voters First Pledge to get behind comprehensive campaign reform to stop the pay-to-play system that dominates our nation’s capitol.

“Politicians who aid and abet the type of scandalous activities we know existed on these islands after taking a $13,000 junket there have no excuses,” Donnelly continued. “Schaffer needs to repent for turning a blind eye to human suffering while holding out his hand to collect campaign donations.”

Last week, it was reported that an Abramoff front group paid for Schaffer’s travel to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. protectorate, in 1999 to investigate abusive conditions in garment factories. Schaffer took pre-arranged guided tours of factories, stayed at a luxury resort and found time to go parasailing. When he returned to Washington, DC, he helped the convicted lobbyist implement a legislative strategy to head off needed reforms of labor and immigration laws on the islands.

In addition to taking immediate actions to repent for his role, the group also called on Schaffer to back serious campaign reform by signing the Voters First Pledge. It urges candidates to support Clean Elections modeled legislation and strict spending limits for all federal races. The pledge was sent to federal candidates running in competitive races around the nation two weeks ago.

Campaign Money Watch is a national, nonpartisan watchdog group that focuses on holding candidates accountable for opposing comprehensive campaign reform and doing favors for their special interest backers and donors.