Spitzer To Return Money From Hsu

Governor Spitzer is returning $17,000 in contributions that he received from Norman Hsu, a top national Democratic donor who was recently exposed as a fugitive from justice, a spokeswoman for the governor said today.

Mr. Spitzer is the latest prominent Democrat to return Hsu's money. Senator Clinton said she would give to charity $23,000 she received from Hsu, who is wanted in California for failing to show up for sentencing on charges that he defrauded investors in 1991.

"He is returning his money and took steps this morning to do so immediately after reading stories," a spokeswoman for Mr. Spitzer, Christine Anderson, said via e-mail.

Attorney General Cuomo received a $10,000 donation from Hsu on June 20. He also received thousands of dollars in donations from a San Francisco family, the Paws, whose gifts appear to track those of Hsu's. A New York City Council member, John Liu, and Rep. Anthony Weiner also received money from Hsu.

Senators Kerry and Kennedy of Massachusetts and Senators Boxer and Feinstein of California are among those who are giving back Hsu's money, the Associated Press reported.

Mr. Hsu, a businessman from Hong Kong who lives in SoHo, has reportedly given hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic politicians since 2003. Mr. Hsu's status as a fugitive was first reported by several national newspapers on Tuesday.

"We were all very surprised by this news. We have a procedure that we follow, and upon verifying it, we returned his money. And we will continue to analyze all contributions and take action that is warranted," Mrs. Clinton said at a press conference this morning at Mr. Spitzer's New York City headquarters, where they talked about roadblocks facing the governor's plan to expand health care coverage to more children.

It's not clear how much Hsu gave to Mr. Spitzer. State board of elections records show that Mr. Spitzer received $17,000 from Hsu on October 18, 2006.