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Getty Clinton campaign gives private prison lobbyist cash to charity

Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign made an $8,600 donation to a women's prison charity late last year and got the money from an ironic source: political contributions from private prison lobbyists.

However, Clinton's campaign is still taking in much larger sums gathered by at least one prominent lobbyist linked to the prison industry.

Clinton's campaign finance report filed late Sunday night discloses a payment of $8,600 on December 30 to the Women's Prison Association, a New York-based group that provides assistance to women who are incarcerated and helps them reintegrate with society when they get out.

A Clinton campaign spokesman said the contribution fulfilled a pledge Clinton made after discussions with the racial justice group ColorofChange.

"Hillary believes we should move away from contracting out this core responsibility of the federal government to private corporations, and from creating private industry incentives that may contribute—or have the appearance of contributing—to over-incarceration. The campaign does not accept contributions from federally registered lobbyists or PACs for private prison companies, and has donated any such direct contributions to charity," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.

The spokesman declined to identify the specific individuals whose political contributions were turned over to charity.

Despite the refunds, Clinton campaign continues to benefit handsomely from the fundraising assistance of some closely connected to the private prison business. In another report filed Sunday night, the campaign disclosed that Richard Sullivan of Capitol Counsel—until recently, a Raleigh, N.C.-based federally registered lobbyist for the for-profit prison operator GEO Group—bundled $69,363 in donations for Clinton in the fourth quarter, bringing his total for the year to a whopping $274,891.

That makes Sullivan the second-most prolific lobbyist-bundler for the Clinton campaign, beaten out only by D.C. lobbyist Heather Podesta, who's tallied up $348,581 so far.

Sullivan's firm, Capitol Counsel, has been registered for years to represent GEO Group subsidiary BI Inc.—which focuses on electronic monitoring of inmates. While the firm continues to represent BI, Sullivan no longer intends to do so, according to a disclosure form filed with Congress on Nov. 9.

The figures and the policy rejecting donations from prison lobbyists includes only direct donations to Clinton's campaign, not supportive super PACs or state and federal Democratic committees.

Prison lobbyist donations to Clinton and other candidates were highlighted last year in reports by the Intercept and Vice News.

UPDATE (Wednesday, 9:16 A.M.): This post has been updated to note the November filing removing Sullivan from the GEO group lobbying account.

Josh Gerstein is a senior reporter for POLITICO.