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PHOENIX — U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., reportedly has received campaign contributions totaling $150,000 from tribes affiliated at one time or another with a former lobbyist who's now at the center of Senate and criminal investigations into possible influence-buying.

But the donations had nothing to do with actions that have disgraced ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff and Hayworth has no reason to return the money because the donors want him to keep the funds, said Joe Eule, the congressman's chief of staff.

"The tribes have told us, 'We love you. We loved you before we met Jack Abramoff, we love you after Jack Abramoff, and we think it would be foolish of you to (give back) the money,' " Eule said.

Hayworth, now in his sixth term, has been deeply involved in Indian matters on several fronts and has received support from scores of tribes nationwide.

In 1997, Hayworth joined Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., to found and serve as co-chairman of the Congressional Native American Caucus, a pivotal group for legislation affecting tribes.

Kennedy aide Robin Costello said Thursday that the Democratic congressman has no intention of returning money received from tribes affiliated with Abramoff. "None of the political support has anything to do with Jack Abramoff," Costello said, "so, no, we have not considered returning the money."

Eule said Hayworth "had (his) own relationship with these tribes" and did not need Abramoff's assistance for political donations.

Campaign finance records for Hayworth and a political action committee he operates separately show that tribes have contributed a total of about $680,000 since 1999, Eule said.

Of that, 22 percent came from Abramoff-related tribes, and some of that was given before or after Abramoff was the tribes' lobbyist.

Eule produced a letter from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, a former Abramoff client, saying that the tribe had long donated to causes on both sides of the political spectrum and that its decisions were not "coerced or controlled" by Abramoff. Eule said similar support has been expressed by other tribes, and several are writing letters to that effect.