Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

McConnell campaign manager Jesse Benton resigns amid federal probe
Washington Post ^ | 8/29/2104 | Matea Gold

Posted on 08/30/2014 4:02:46 AM PDT by iowamark

Jesse Benton, the GOP political strategist spearheading Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s reelection campaign, resigned from his post Friday amid new details about an ongoing federal investigation into an endorsement-pay-scheme involving a 2012 presidential campaign he oversaw.

In a statement issued Friday evening, Benton cited “inaccurate press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors about me and my role in past campaigns that are politically motivated, unfair and, most importantly, untrue.”

“The press accounts and rumors are particularly hurtful because they are false,” Benton wrote. “However, what is most troubling to me is that they risk unfairly undermining and becoming a distraction to this reelection campaign.”

He said that “with a heavy heart” he offered his resignation to McConnell, who “reluctantly accepted.” His resignation was first reported by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Benton’s decision comes two days after former Iowa state senator Kent Sorenson pleaded guilty to two federal charges, admitting that he accepted concealed payments from the 2012 presidential campaigns of Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas to secure his endorsement. A top Paul campaign official, Dimitri Kesari, was involved in efforts to pay Sorenson for his support, according a state independent counsel investigation.

Benton, who is married to Paul’s granddaughter, served as chairman of the campaign. It is unclear if he knew about payments made to Sorenson, but emails published last year indicate he was involved in efforts to get him to defect from the Bachmann campaign...

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections; US: Iowa; US: Kentucky
KEYWORDS: jessebenton; kentsorenson; paul; randpaul; ronpaul

1 posted on 08/30/2014 4:02:47 AM PDT by iowamark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: iowamark

Earlier thread on this investigation:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3197807/posts
“Sorenson Admits to Taking ‘Under-the-Table’ Payments [from Paul], Pleads Guilty”


2 posted on 08/30/2014 4:05:52 AM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

Ditch Mitch, it’s teh only way to clean him up.


3 posted on 08/30/2014 4:09:10 AM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

How’s that McConnell victory looking to you now, GOPe? The Bachman deal is worthy of the dirty Democrat politics. Don’t be surprised when conservative voters decide to go fishing on election day.


4 posted on 08/30/2014 4:12:43 AM PDT by txrefugee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: txrefugee
"I don't think the Tea Partiers are gonna vote for us after all, Mitch."


5 posted on 08/30/2014 5:14:40 AM PDT by Paine in the Neck (Socialism consumes EVERYTHING)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: iowamark

Just amazing how this comes to light after the primary.


6 posted on 08/30/2014 5:26:32 AM PDT by mikefive (RLTW)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mikefive

Criminal lowlifes without a shred of integrity. That pretty much describes the RINO class and their operatives.


7 posted on 08/30/2014 6:38:43 AM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mikefive

The Paul-Sorenson bribery and the Paul-McConnell alliance were all known before the primary.


8 posted on 08/30/2014 6:40:48 AM PDT by iowamark (I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mikefive

This was all quite well known before the primary - there was a lot of confusion as to why McConnell did not get rid of Benton as soon as the primary was over so this would not be an issue for the general election.

Love how the article starts out by saying “a” 2012 presidential campaign without mentioning the candidate - Ron Paul.


9 posted on 08/30/2014 7:12:36 AM PDT by Republican Wildcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mikefive

One of the sleaze bags gets caught, that’s all he will be working for Alexander or Corkhole before long. The GOPE are truly the scum of humanity.


10 posted on 08/30/2014 8:21:05 AM PDT by sarge83
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: sarge83
One of the sleaze bags gets caught, that’s all he will be working for Alexander or Corkhole before long. The GOPE are truly the scum of humanity.

Benton isn't GOPe. He's from the Ron/Rand Paul Libertarian camp.
11 posted on 08/30/2014 8:24:30 AM PDT by tanknetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson