U.S. Sen. Cory Booker made more than half a million dollars in 2013 and donated $440,000 in cash, property and stock to charity, according to new tax returns released by his campaign.
The documents released Monday show the Democrat made $540,341 last year. More than $410,000 came from speaking fees, but Booker also drew a salary of $114,000 for serving most of the year as mayor of Newark and brought in $29,000 as a senator.
He donated more than $440,000, including a property he sold to the Newark Now Financial Empowerment Center for $1. Recipients of his donations include churches, schools, a food bank, the Dominican Parade and American Cancer Society.
Booker has sold all his stock holdings since becoming a senator, said his campaign staff.
Booker has now released 16 years' worth of returns. His campaign is challenging his opponent, Republican Jeff Bell, to do the same.
In July, Bell released tax returns that showed he and his wife, Rosalie O'Connell, had an income of $341,000 in 2013.
Local
Bell worked primarily for the American Principles Project, a conservative group. He also received money as a consultant and $50,000 from the Lehrman Institute, which backs the gold standard policy that Bell supports, as a lifetime achievement award
Bell and his wife donated $17,300 to charity, with the biggest gift — $12,350 — going to Holy Spirit Church.
At the time Bell released his information, he challenged Booker to release his 2013 tax returns.
On Twitter Monday, Bell's campaign criticized Booker for the way he released his finances — giving journalists two hours to look at the documents. Bell's 2013 tax return is posted on his campaign website.
