Donations for Gov. Jindal, others under scrutiny

The Louisiana Board of Ethics says campaign contributions for Gov. Bobby Jindal and dozens of other candidates came from "straw man entities" linked to a landfill company.

The Times-Picayune reports that Jindal received $40,000 in 2007 from companies linked to River Birch Inc. The Board of Ethics alleges in a May 18 lawsuit that the donations violate a $5,000 cap from one company if all the money came from River Birch.

The board says recipients haven't been accused of wrongdoing and don't have to return the money. Since 2003, the seven firms identified in the lawsuit as conduits for illegal contributions gave money to about 60 candidates.

Timmy Teepell, Jindal's 2007 campaign manager, said donations were accepted "in good faith and in accordance with the law."