Iowa Lawmaker Guilty of Receiving Illegal Payments

[DonViejo]

Last edited Thu Aug 28, 2014, 10:39 AM - Edit history (2)

Source: Political Wire

Former Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson (R) has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving concealed payments from then-Rep. Ron Paul's (R) presidential campaign and then obstructing the investigation into the incident, the Des Moines Register reports.

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Read more: http://politicalwire.com/archives/2014/08/27/iowa_lawmaker_guilty_of_receiving_illegal_payments.html

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Iowa Lawmaker's Plea Deal Could Get Awkward for Rand Paul

State Sen. Kent Sorenson’s guilty plea could implicate campaign staffers linked to the Kentucky senator through his father.

Former Iowa state senator Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty on Wednesday to endorsing former Rep. Ron Paul’s campaign in exchange for secret payments and then lying about the payoff to investigators. In particular, he admitted “one count of causing a federal campaign committee to falsely report its expenditures to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and one count of obstruction of justice in connection with the concealed expenditures.” The plea bargain prevents Sorenson from facing prosecution for allegedly previously being paid in secret to support Michele Bachmann’s campaign before jumping ship to back Paul and guarantees that his wife also will not face criminal charges.

None of the allegations around Sorenson directly involve either Ron or Rand Paul, but they do involve top staffers on the Ron Paul campaign. Sorenson’s wife allegedly accepted a $25,000 check from Dimtri Kesari, Ron Paul’s deputy campaign manager in 2012, and other key figures in Paul’s political orbit like Jesse Benton, who was Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign chairman and was Rand’s campaign manager in his 2010 Senate race.

If Sorenson’s plea deal involves further testimony against any of these operatives, things could get awkward for Rand Paul. After all, while the only Ron Paul staffer linked to Sorenson to have worked for Rand Paul is Benton, all of those named have long-standing ties to the Paul family’s political efforts through organizations like National Right to Work, and legal issues for even one of them would be embarrassing for Paul 2016. After all, nothing good can happen for your presidential campaign when federal prosecutors start issuing subpoenas to your father’s former staffers.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/27/iowa-state-senator-s-guilty-plea-has-2016-implications.html

[groundloop]

1. If it was illegal to RECEIVE the payments then it was likely illegal to MAKE the payments

So, is Ron Paul being investigated for his role in this?

[liberal N proud]

2. So doesn't that effect Ron Paul as well?

The giver and the receiver of illegal transactions?

[onecent]

3. I'm beginning to think Americans do NOT read the

right material or listen to the news. WHEN are Americans going to get pissed at all this corruption going on within our governent????????? WHEN?#$%^&*()

[1StrongBlackMan]

7. That wasn't "within our government" ...

that was corruption in an attempt to get within our government.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Hopefully, even Republicans will soon be saying 'Fuck Ron/Rand Paul' (nt)

[a kennedy]

5. Rachel Maddow had a piece on this also.....

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/watch/mcconnell-campaign-sees-shadow-of-payoff-case-322686531662

[LeftishBrit]

6. So will this get Ron Paul into trouble too? Hope so!

[drray23]

8. follow the money..

Whats even more interesting is that the ron paul campaign manager who likely knew and approved these payments is now working for mitch mc connel.
Maybe he has not abandoned his corrupt tactics and did the same in mc connel camp. If so , he is on trouble for winning his seat back. I will be overjoyed if allison lundergan grimes unseats him.

[NBachers]

10. You are so bad

[Android3.14]

11. Hmmmm

Last edited Thu Aug 28, 2014, 02:14 PM - Edit history (1)

I couldn't help but notice your title promoting voter ID laws that discriminate against others and a message using an LGBT slur that also is ageist.

What sorts of voter ID laws should we have?

U.S. Representative Mike Michaud, age 59, outed himself in Maine in the midst of his election bid for governor. I'm curious if the GOP is going to go after him about his age and sexual orientation.

Would that be fair in your opinion?