Brizzi took job with Durham company

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Tim Durham is well-known in political circles as a big donor to both the Republican Party and GOP candidates.

Marion County Prosecutor Carl Brizzi is Durham's closest political connection. Brizzi acknowledges his friendship, though he won't comment on the FBI raid.

Wednesday, Brizzi released a statement admitting that he initially accepted a position on the board of Fair Financial, one of the companies raided by the FBI Tuesday.

"Mr. Durham recently asked me to serve on the Board of one of his companies, Fair Financial. While I initially accepted the position, I never attended a meeting of the Board, never voted as a Board member, was never involved in any of the business decisions of Fair Financial, and was never compensated as a member of the Board. Upon reading the October IBJ article and uncertain whether I had yet formally taken a position on the Board, I indicated to Mr. Durham that I was no longer interested in serving on the Board," the statement read.

But Republicans from Marion County Sheriff candidate Tim Motsinger to U.S. Senator Richard Lugar have benefitted from campaign contributions given by Durham. They include Governor Mitch Daniels, who has received close to $200,000 and Indiana House Minority Leader Brian Bosma.

"I did accept $5,000 from Tim Durham in 2006 and then $5,000 in 2007," said state Senator Mike Delph (R-Carmel).

Senator Delph didn't know Durham until he became a candidate. Now he worries that about the possibility that he took money that will be deemed tainted.

"If it becomes very clear that there's a problem our campaign will certainly deal with it in an appropriate manner," said Delph.

Delph said he's not sure if he'll give the money back.

"I'm not sure what we'll do," said Delph. "I mean, we could give the money back, we could donate it to charity."

He won't be alone. Attorney General Greg Zoeller and State Treasurer Richard Mourdock are also on the list of Republicans who accepted Durham donations. Durham also hosted party fundraisers at his office and his home.

Outside Indiana, Durham contributed to Rudy Guiliani's run for the presidency. Our research shows he gave to just one Democrat, Congressman Baron Hill. Hill and Durham are both natives of Seymour.