Jesse Benton and John Tate, two political operatives closely associated with the Rand Paul campaign, have pleaded not guilty to federal charges stemming from the 2012 White House bid by Ron Paul, father of Rand.
They remain free on personal recognizance bond Trial for them, and a third defendant Dimitri Kesari, was tentatively set for Oct. 5
The aides were indicted in Iowa two weeks ago. The indictment alleges they negotiated or otherwise involved with a $73,000 payment to Iowa state Sen. Kent Sorenson in exchange for his leaving the Michele Bachmann campaign to support Ron Paul. It accuses them of covering it up by using false invoices to hide the money in campaign records and filings.
-RW
As a libertarian, I am against "campaign finance" regulation. However, I am open to the idea of long prison terms for gross stupidity. Why would you ever want to be less than a mile from a Bachmann supporter? Why would you want such person in your libertarian campaign? And why would you make illegal payments to get him into your campaign? And why would you lie about it on forms you must sign under penalty of perjury?
ReplyDeletePerhaps to torpedo Ron if his campaign ever got off the ground--which it was doing at the time? I've always wondered if somebody has some dirt on Benton. How else would one explain his bizarre decisions? Anyway, now the the torpedo is aimed at Rand, what little is left of him.
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