Head of pro-Rand Paul super PAC indicted in payment scheme
Source: Politico
A close confidant of Sen. Rand Paul was indicted Wednesday for an alleged conspiracy to bribe an Iowa state senator in 2011 to shift allegiances to Paul’s father, Ron, then a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
Jesse Benton, a longtime aide to the younger Paul who’s now helming a super PAC supporting the Kentucky Republican’s 2016 presidential bid, faces charges of conspiracy, obstructing an investigation, submitting false campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission and making false statements to the FBI. Two other operatives, John Tate and Dimitrios Kesari, also face charges connected to the alleged payoff.
A call to Benton’s cellphone revealed that his voicemail box was full. He did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
Paul’s presidential campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But another Benton client, Kentucky state Rep. Mike Harmon, said Benton called him Wednesday afternoon and told him Paul has his back.
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