Just hours after Alexi Giannoulias’ U.S. Senate campaign blasted Rep. Mark Kirk for taking $54,010 from employees of Goldman Sachs -- which the Securities and Exchange Commission recently accused of fraud -- the Kirk campaign said it plans to return those donations. "I will err on the side of caution," Kirk said at a news conference in Chicago.

Over the life of his career, the Center for Responsive Politics says Kirk has raised $1.26 million from the securities and investment industry.