Via press release from the Justice Department:
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 1’s 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.
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.
Doug Wead was indicted today for funneling Russian money to the RNC: https://t.co/6dUh33JNrS
— Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) September 20, 2021
BREAKING: Veteran GOP operatives Jesse Benton and Doug Wead indicted for funneling $25,000 of a Russian national’s money to the RNC to get a photo/meeting with Trump. https://t.co/kfOuPij1rU
— Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) September 20, 2021
Just In: The DOJ Office of Public Affairs is reporting that an indictment was unsealed today against two veteran GOP operatives. Jesse Benton and Doug Wead schemed and conspired to solicit and funnel money from a Russian national into the RNC to get a photo/meeting with Trump.
— Duty To Warn ? (@duty2warn) September 20, 2021
Thanks Mr. President. For peace and prosperity! For all you’ve done! https://t.co/sE4I91Qonj
— Doug Wead (@DougWead) December 2, 2019
The Real Story – OAN Unmasking Tyranny with Doug Wead https://t.co/Eerdy6XxYL
— Doug Wead (@DougWead) September 13, 2021
Donald Trump was one of the most impactful presidents in American history. Thank you Mr. President @realdonaldtrump for all you have done. pic.twitter.com/xDFDr2butv
— Doug Wead (@DougWead) January 20, 2021
Former Ron/Rand Paul & McConnell campaign aide Jesse Benton (who Trump pardoned earlier) charged with a new campaign finance law violation—soliciting a contribution from a Russian national. Says he solicited $100K, pocketed $75 for himself. Full DOJ stmt: https://t.co/OMdRgAAH08 https://t.co/jnVFJEDUs1
— Cameron Joseph (@cam_joseph) September 20, 2021
Trump pardoned Benton in 2020 for an unrelated political campaign finance case. Looks incredibly suspect in hindsight, knowing that Trump took a photo with Benton’s Russian client. https://t.co/uDkfYlIkQy
— Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) September 20, 2021
The $25k was sent to the Trump Victory PAC. He is the donation that prosecutors say came from a Russian national. pic.twitter.com/tcExuTWaUs
— Scott Stedman (@ScottMStedman) September 20, 2021