A spokesman for the Missouri Republican Party disputes a news story from Washington that implies Republican candidates here benefited from the fundraising efforts of embattled Texas Congressman Tom DeLay. John Hancock says the state party returned a $50,000 donation made by Congressman DeLay’s political action committee in 2000, because the money wasn’t needed. The story implies Missouri Republican candidates benefitted from money raised by DeLay and funneled through southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt’s campaign. Hancock confirms Blunt donated to Missouri Republican causes, adding he can’t confirm whether any of the money indirectly came from DeLay. Hancock says the Missouri Republican Party’s fundraising efforts came under scrutiny in 2000 and were found to be perfectly legal.