Congressman Darrell Issa's office Thursday spurned a Democratic committee's demand that the Vista lawmaker give back a "tainted" $2,500 campaign contribution he accepted four years ago from indicted Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

"This is just partisan mudslinging, and a cheap attempt to create a feeling of guilt by association," Issa Chief of Staff Dale Neugebauer said.

Issa and 11 other California Republican lawmakers were challenged by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Thursday to return any campaign funding they'd received from DeLay. The committee works to elect Democratic candidates to the House of Representatives.

DeLay was indicted by a Texas grand jury Wednesday on a single charge of conspiring to evade Texas campaign laws and illegally funnelling corporate campaign donations to Texas legislative candidates.

DeLay, who was criticized by the House ethics committee last year on separate issues, called the indictment a "sham."

But the 11-term Texas congressman was forced to step down from his post as the House majority leader —— at least temporarily —— pending a trial that could carry a two-year jail sentence upon conviction.

The Democratic committee said Thursday that DeLay's colleagues should return any campaign donations even though DeLay had not been convicted of the charges against him.

"The bottom line is Tom DeLay has been indicted," Adrienne Elrod, committee spokeswoman said.

In a news release, committee spokesman Bill Burton said, "Tom DeLay's indictment was only one part of a system of pay-to-play and lobbyist-driven legislating that he put into place. Unfortunately, California House Republicans have supported and benefited this same culture which puts the special interests at the expense of middle-class families and our country."

According to the Federal Elections Commission, Americans for a Republican Majority —— DeLay's political action committee —— donated $2,500 to the "Issa for Congress" campaign on May 15, 2001.

The committee said Thursday that one Republican congressman, millionaire Jeb Bradley, R-New Hampshire, had already decided to return campaign money received from DeLay's political action committee.

Bradley's office did not return telephone calls Thursday.

Neugebauer, meanwhile, said Issa had essentially "returned" the DeLay money last year by donating $5,000 to DeLay's legal defense fund when he was fighting the ethics committee. And, he said, Issa had done nothing wrong by taking the money.

"Quite frankly, this was a contribution by the leader of our party," he said.

Neugebauer also attacked the Democratic committee, saying they were simply muckraking.

"This was four years ago, and keep in mind that in this country people are innocent until proven guilty," he said. "This is really just a partisan attack. We're confident that people will see it for what it is."

Neugebauer said the Republican Party had already "appropriately" dealt with the DeLay issue.

"Our caucus rules call for him to step aside, which he did," Neugebauer said. "We've already appointed a replacement to act in his place until these charges are cleared."

Elrod, though, said Republicans were trying to downplay the issue.

"At least one member so far has returned the money —— Jeb Bradley," she said. "So why can't these (California) members do the same? Why can't Darrell Issa return the money?"

Some of the other California Republicans named by the committee included former California Attorney General and U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, R-Gold River; Ken Calvert, R-Riverside; and Mary Bono, R-Murrieta.

Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.