Can politicians redeem themselves by giving away Abramoff's money?

To me this exactly like receiving stolen goods. Just cos you don't know its stolen (although it might be suspiciously cheap) doesn't mean you haven't acted illegally.

If a friend of yours "comes into a lot of money", doesn't say how and is very generous with it, do you accept it? If it turns out he robbed a bank, can you redeem yourself by giving the money away, or have you also been a conspirator? If money was being laundered through you, you should pay the price as well - right?

Should everyone that's received money, even if they've now washed their hands of it because they have been caught, be punished in some way?