GOP Sen. Conrad Burns recieved campaign contribution from attorney, then recommends the attorney to a federal judgeship a day after.

Here's another Republican scandal to chew on--with our old friend Conrad Burns. I really don't know what to say about this one, except that the timing really stinks. This is from The Billings Gazette:

WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Conrad Burns received a $2,000 campaign donation from an attorney one day before recommending him for a federal judgeship five years ago.

Democrats immediately questioned the propriety of the contribution and Burns' action. A senior Burns aide called any link "absurd" and noted that the state's other senator, Democrat Max Baucus, also recommended the attorney.

The Senate confirmed the judicial nominee, Sam Haddon, by a vote of 95-0 on July 20, 2001.

The donation was listed in Burns' 2001 filings to the Federal Election Commission. Days before the election, the donation was noted in a report conducted by the Center for Investigative Reporting and circulated by rival Jon Tester's campaign.

Haddon and his wife, Betty, gave $2,000 to Burns' campaign on February 12, 2001 _ one day before Burns and Baucus announced their recommendation of Haddon to be a U.S. district judge for Montana.

[....]

Burns took about $150,000 in campaign contributions from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, his clients and associates, all of which he has since given away.

This goes even way beyond Republican absurdity--Burns gets a $2,000 contribution from an attorney, and then recommends that attorney to a federal judgeship the day after?

Can you say conflict of interest here?