Long -time GOP operatives have been charged with funneling Russian national money to Trump, RNC

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Neither Trump nor his campaign was named in the indictment, but details in the 19-page document clarify that the procedure involved in finding a donation was related to the Trump event and an opportunity to encounter him.

For example, the accusations refer to a $ 25,000 donation on Oct. 27, 2016, to a Benton political committee alleged to cover the foreign source of money lines with a donation of the same size and date to the political committee of Trump attributed a Jesse Bentor, who prosecutors said was a garbling of the Bentons name.

There is no indication in the lawsuit that Trump or his campaign aides knew the money came from a Russian donor. The charges say Benton and Wead hid the arrangement from Trump, and part of the scheme involved getting political committees to inadvertently file reports indicating that Benton was indeed the source of the funds.

The indictment alleges Benton and Wead hoped to profit from the scheme and take $ 100,000 from the Russians, but only paid $ 25,000 to Trump Victory, a joint venture between the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee.

Benton, a Kentucky veteran and political activist, previously faced federal campaign finance charges for payments to a key Iowa state legislator who changed endorsements from Michelle Bachman to Ron Paul at the 2012 GOP presidential premiere. Trump, before leaving office, pardoned Benton for the crimes he was convicted of. Benton is also a father -in -law and former adviser to Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Son of Ron Pauls. Benton previously led Sen. Aquino’s reelection campaign. Mitch McConnells in 2014 before falling into the middle of a legal investigation.

In pardoning Benton and another comrade, Trump indicated that the move was supported by Rand Paul and former FEC Chair Lee Goodman.

The new indictment alleges Benton conducted a foreign donation scheme in the days before and after he was sentenced to two years probation in a campaign finance case associated with Iowa.

Wead is a conservative commentator and activist who co-authored a book with Vice President George HW Bush, published before Bush became president in 1989. Wead also enjoyed close access to Trump. White House during his presidency.

Wead represented the case of two former lawyers for Trump when he was president, Jay Sekulow and Jane Raskin.

Asked about the charges, Sekulow said in a statement: Doug Wead is a respected author and advocate of charities. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and will continue to respond appropriately in court.

The case against Benton and Wead was assigned to Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump nominee.

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