Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDoug Wead was indicted today for funneling Russian money to the RNC
Link to tweet
Tweet text:
Scott Stedman
@ScottMStedman
Doug Wead was indicted today for funneling Russian money to the RNC:
Doug Wead
@DougWead
If Russia favored Trump why did they give money to Hillary Clinton?: ?a via @YouTube
3:32 PM · Sep 20, 2021
Scott Stedman
@ScottMStedman
Doug Wead was indicted today for funneling Russian money to the RNC:
Doug Wead
@DougWead
If Russia favored Trump why did they give money to Hillary Clinton?: ?a via @YouTube
3:32 PM · Sep 20, 2021
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/political-operatives-indicted-alleged-scheme-involving-illegal-campaign-contribution-2016
Political Operatives Indicted for Alleged Scheme Involving Illegal Campaign Contribution to 2016 Presidential Campaign
An indictment was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a Kentucky man and a Florida man both with conspiracy to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national, effect a conduit contribution and cause false records to be filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and related substantive offenses.
According to court documents, Jesse R. Benton, 43, of Louisville, Kentucky, who previously worked as a campaign manager for two campaigns for U.S. Senate and one campaign for president, and Roy Douglas Doug Wead, 75, of Bonita Springs, Florida, who previously served as an advisor to multiple presidential campaigns, conspired together to solicit a political contribution from a Russian foreign national (Foreign National 1). As described in the indictment, Wead conveyed to Foreign National 1 that he could meet Political Candidate 1, a candidate for president during the 2016 election cycle, in exchange for a payment. Shortly after Foreign National 1 committed to transfer the funds, Benton reached out to individuals at Political Committee B, the national party committee for Political Candidate 1s political party. He then arranged for Foreign National 1 to attend a political fundraising event and get a photograph with Political Candidate 1, in exchange for a political contribution to Political Committee C, a joint fundraising committee comprised of the campaign committee for Political Candidate 1, Political Committee B, and related state committees. Foreign National 1 ultimately wired $100,000 to Company A, a political consulting firm owned by Benton. To disguise the true purpose of the transfer of funds, Wead and Benton created a fake invoice for consulting services and invented a cover story.
Wead and Foreign National 1 attended the political fundraising event for Political Candidate 1 on Sept. 22, 2016. Foreign National 2, who worked as a Russian/English translator for Wead, also attended. All three individuals had photographs taken at the event with Political Candidate 1. Following the event, Benton repeatedly represented to a consultant working for Political Committee B and Political Committee C that he had already sent the promised contribution for the event, but in actuality he delayed sending the contribution. Benton ultimately filled out a contributor form, indicated that he was the contributor, and used a personal credit card to make a $25,000 contribution. Benton retained the remaining $75,000 of Foreign National 1s money. Because Benton falsely claimed to have given the contribution himself, three different political committees unwittingly filed reports with the FEC that inaccurately reported Benton, rather than Foreign National 1, as the source of the funds.
Benton and Wead are both charged with one count of conspiracy to solicit and cause an illegal campaign contribution by a foreign national, effect a conduit contribution, and cause false records to be filed with the FEC, one count of contribution by a foreign national, one count of contribution in the name of another and three counts of making false entries in an official record. The defendants made their initial court appearance today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. If convicted, Benton and Wead face a range of maximum penalties from five to 20 years in prison, per count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
15 replies, 1785 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (39)
ReplyReply to this post
15 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Doug Wead was indicted today for funneling Russian money to the RNC (Original Post)
Nevilledog
Sep 2021
OP
Clash City Rocker
(3,396 posts)1. Pull that Wead up by the roots
malaise
(268,930 posts)3. You win the thread
Lock them up!
malaise
(268,930 posts)4. You win the thread
Lock them up!
grantcart
(53,061 posts)11. and smoke em
Skittles
(153,147 posts)2. Trump needed RUSSIA to help him get installed into the White House
but he questions the patriotism of kneeling football players. Trump is a FUCKING TRAITOR.
Just_Vote_Dem
(2,802 posts)5. As usual, they accuse others of their treachery n/t
csziggy
(34,136 posts)7. Everything RepuQs accuse someone else of, they are likely guilty
It's been true for decades.
PSPS
(13,591 posts)6. Wake me when any of these "indictments" has any repercussions at all.
louis-t
(23,292 posts)10. I think this one is huge.
TFG can't pardon him from FL.
Nevilledog
(51,080 posts)8. Other guy was pardoned by Trump for other campaign finance crimes
Link to tweet
Tweet text:
Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney
INBOX: Former Rand Paul campaign aide previously pardoned by Trump for campaign finance crime charged with yet another campaign finance crime related to 2016 election. https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MjAuNDYyMTY3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5qdXN0aWNlLmdvdi9vcGEvcHJlc3MtcmVsZWFzZS9maWxlLzE0MzQyMjYvZG93bmxvYWQ_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.QnGvFuanWgtMiHtDhHQ_sA-rPK_Xs_eGufYxgWDtilE/s/1014765633/br/112637623230-l
Image
3:01 PM · Sep 20, 2021
Kyle Cheney
@kyledcheney
INBOX: Former Rand Paul campaign aide previously pardoned by Trump for campaign finance crime charged with yet another campaign finance crime related to 2016 election. https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MjAuNDYyMTY3NjEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5qdXN0aWNlLmdvdi9vcGEvcHJlc3MtcmVsZWFzZS9maWxlLzE0MzQyMjYvZG93bmxvYWQ_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.QnGvFuanWgtMiHtDhHQ_sA-rPK_Xs_eGufYxgWDtilE/s/1014765633/br/112637623230-l
Image
3:01 PM · Sep 20, 2021
rsdsharp
(9,165 posts)9. Jesus Christ! Benton was convicted of basically bribing
Iowa state senator Kent Sorensen to switch his endorsement from Michelle Bachman to Ron Paul on the eve of the Iowa caucus. Trump pardoned him.
That wasnt a get out of jail free card going forward, Jesse.
monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)12. 9 months in, the-
jack-ass party are really starting to have a flesh eating disease known as -" every man for himself " ! called "tic-toc " mfer's !
temporary311
(955 posts)13. Every accusation really is a confession, huh?
Link to tweet
Its always either something they have done, something they are doing, or something they want to do.
UTUSN
(70,683 posts)14. K&R