"It was a hard-fought battle, but with your support the Presidency was captured for the Republican Party and George W. Bush this year. Now our opponents want to use the legal system to steal the election."
So begins a November 18th solicitation for the "Swing States PAC" Legal Challenge Fund mailed to Republican donors. A letter dated just a day earlier sent to Democratic contributors by "Friends for a Democratic White House" is nearly identical and bears the same signature, J. Dewald, except it insists the Presidency "was captured for the Democratic Party and Al Gore this year".
The letters are popping up in Washington, Connecticut, Michigan and elsewhere, seeking a contribution of "at least $1,000", to be posted in postage-paid envelopes to seemingly prestigious Pennsylvania Avenue addresses.
The envelopes are in fact going to mail drops. The letters and the person who rented the mail drops are under scrutiny by the FBI, the US Postal Inspector and the Connecticut state attorney general.