WTAE-TV reports that Rick Santorum's charity, Operation Good Neighbor, is looking for a new treasurer now that Barbara Bonfiglio has left the lobbying firm she worked for. And Gerald Shuster, a political analyst from the University of Pittsburgh, tells WTAE that if Santorum's charity has nothing to hide, then they should open their books in response to the station's request for information about whose travel they were paying for.
Below is an excerpt of the transcript. Here is the
full transcript and video.
Team 4 has asked the senator's office and the charity itself for records that would show who was doing all that traveling for the charity and where they went.
The request continues to be denied.
"If there is no question as to the legitimacy and legality of their operation, then everything ought to be on the table for the media and anyone else to look at," said Gerald Shuster of the University of Pittsburgh.Shuster, a political analyst, said because Santorum has proclaimed himself to be the GOP's point man on lobbyist reform, he should open the books at Operation Good Neighbor.
"He himself ought to make a statement and come to the forefront and talk to you in person or with any of the media and say here's our books, they're open, they're on the table. You guys can peruse the books and examine them for whatever you think there is there. There's nothing to hide. Here they are," Shuster said.
Team 4 asked Operation Good Neighbor if Barbara Bonfiglio will be replaced as treasurer with another employee of a Washington lobbying firm.
A spokeswoman did not answer that question directly, but said in a written statement that Operation Good Neighbor is currently working to fill the position of treasurer.
