Claim: NSW Labor was still finding cash for Craig Thomson Is Labor really still secretly promising members" money to defend Craig Thomson? CRAIG Thomson's lawyer claims ALP NSW secretary Sam Dastyari agreed in February to find $35,000 towards the independent MP's mounting legal fees, 10 months after he was edged out of the ALP. The allegation implies Mr Dastyari was still endeavouring in recent months to support Mr Thomson financially, long after he had publicly said the ALP would no longer be doing so. Chris McArdle, who has been representing Mr Thomson over allegations he misused hundreds of thousands of dollars of funds when he was a union leader, has filed a statement of claim against Mr Dastyari and the NSW ALP seeking $35,000 plus $1000 in costs. Mr Dastyari last night said the assertions from Mr McArdle were "ridiculous," and would be vigorously challenged in court. "We made clear long ago that we would not pay any of Craig Thomson's legal bills once he ceased to be a member of the ALP," Mr Dastyari said... But Mr Dastyari would not confirm or deny specific claims by Mr McArdle that the powerful ALP official came to his office on two occasions to discuss precise arrangements to provide $35,000 towards Mr Thomson's defence... Mr McArdle said that early this year Mr Thomson had told him he had spoken with Mr Dastyari, who would be arranging to come to his office. At the alleged February meeting, Mr Dastyari had spoken of ways to "ease the pressure" on Mr Thomson, and said he could get $35,000 to this end, with $25,000 to be paid in seven days and $10,000 within the following 10 days. Something stinks.