Noe pleads guilty to illegally funneling money to Bush

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"Former GOP fund-raiser Tom Noe admitted today that he used politicians, former aides to Gov. Bob Taft, coworkers, and friends to illegally pour thousands of dollars into the effort to reelect President Bush.

Noe entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge David Katz in Toledo to all three felony charges he faced for violating federal campaign finance law. Appearing with his sister and brother-in-law and three attorneys, Noe was calm and responsive to Judge Katz' questions during the 47-minute hearing.

Then, in a brief, 10-second statement, Noe said he voluntarily agreed to change his plea 'to accept responsibility to spare my family and friends the further embarassment of any additional court proceeding. Therefore, I plead guilty.'
No date was set for sentencing pending a pre-sentencing report to the judge. Noe, who lives in Florida, remains free on $350,000 bond."