Mitch McConnell caved under pressure and has decided to donate the $10,000 he received from indicted Ted “The internet is not a truck!” Stevens to charity.

McConnell aids say he’s giving the money to Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville.

From The Hill:

McConnell becomes the highest-ranking senator to distance himself from the Alaska Republican, who faces seven felony charges for concealing more than $250,000 in gifts received from an oil-services company.

Endangered Republican Sens. Gordon Smith (Ore.), Susan Collins (Maine), John Sununu (N.H.) and Elizabeth Dole (N.C.) all plan to return thousands of dollars they received from Stevens this cycle.

And from PolWatchers:

In a statement, McConnell campaign spokesman Justin Brasell said the campaign will give $10,000, the amount it received from Stevens, to Wayside Christian Mission in Louisville. That’s the same cause to which McConnell two years ago gave $18,500 of his donations from the clients of disgraced Republican lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who was sent to prison for felony corruption of public officials.

In the same statement, McConnell attacked opponent Lunsford for accepting campaign donations from people who in the past have been accused of wrongdoing, including former Kentucky Democratic Party chairman Jerry Lundergan. Lundergan was convicted of violating state ethics law, but that conviction was later overturned.

McConnell has refused on Capitol Hill to comment on Stevens’ indictment, but he describes Stevens as a longtime friend and treasured colleague. McConnell last year led a half-hour tribute to Stevens on the Senate floor, recognizing him as the longest-serving Republican senator and praising him for his billions of dollars in earmarked projects back home. Stevens’ so-called “Bridge to Nowhere” became a potent symbol for critics of earmarks.