Sen. Rand Paul’s presidential campaign and its allies struck a defiant tone Wednesday, calling the Justice Department’s indictment of a longtime Paul confidant “suspiciously timed” for the eve of a presidential debate, while declining to address the substance of the charges.
“Senator Rand Paul is disappointed that the Obama justice department chose to release this just prior to the highly anticipated first Republican presidential debate,” said a campaign spokesman, who asked not to be identified. “It certainly appears suspiciously timed and possibly, politically motivated. Additionally, these actions are from 2012 and have nothing to do with our campaign.”
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Jesse Benton, a prominent conservative Republican, has cooperated with the government during its multi-year investigation. That this indictment is now suddenly announced on the eve of the first Republican Presidential debate strongly supports our belief that this is a politically motivated prosecution designed to serve a political agenda, not to achieve justice,” his attorney, Meena Sinfelt, said in a statement. “Mr. Benton is eager to get before an impartial judge and jury who will quickly recognize this for what he believes it is: Character assassination for political gain.”
A call to Benton’s cellphone revealed that his voicemail box was full. He did not respond to an email request for comment.
His lawyer’s assertions echo the sentiments of the elder Paul. In a statement, Ron Paul said he was “extremely disappointed in the government’s decision” and that “the timing of this indictment is highly suspicious, given the fact that the first primary debate is tomorrow.”
Benton 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.
Though Rand Paul declined to directly weigh in on the charges, another Benton client, Kentucky state Rep. Mike Harmon, said Benton called him Wednesday afternoon and told him the senator has his back.“He said Rand is standing with him and some of his other clients would be standing with him,” Harmon said.
Benton is managing Harmon’s campaign for state auditor, and Harmon said he’s going to decide Thursday whether to keep him on staff. “I’m going to think about it and pray about it,” he said. Harmon said Benton told him he intends to ask for an “expedient review” of the charges against him and potentially dispense with the matter within the next two months.
According to the Justice Department, the three operatives paid more than $70,000 — concealed as legitimate campaign expenditures — to then-state Sen. Kent Sorenson in order to shift his support from Rep. Michele Bachmann to the elder Paul. Sorenson made his switch public on Dec. 28, 2011, in Des Moines. The three operatives also coached Sorenson to lie when asked whether he was offered money for his support, according to the indictment. “Violating campaign finance laws by concealing payments to an elected official undermines our electoral system and deceives the public,” said Special Agent in Charge David LeValley. “The FBI will aggressively investigate those who corrupt the integrity of our democratic process.”
origional article:
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/rand-paul-2016-jesse-benton-super-pac-121034.html
