Illicit donors hit Trump campaign
UNITED STATES: Donald Trump’s presidential campaign is facing a fundraising scandal after a newspaper investigation exposed how key supporters were prepared to accept illicit donations from foreign backers.
Senior figures involved with the Great America PAC, one of the leading ‘‘independent’’ groups organising television advertisements and grassroots support for the Republican nominee, sought to channel US$2 million (NZ$2.8m) from a Chinese donor into the campaign despite laws prohibiting donations from foreigners.
In return, undercover reporters purporting to represent the fictitious donor were assured he would obtain ‘‘influence’’ if Trump made it to the White House. Last week Eric Beach, the PAC’s co- chairman, confirmed that their client’s support would be ‘‘remembered’’ if Trump became president.
The disclosure raises questions about the origins of money being ploughed into supporting Trump’s candidacy. The PAC ‘‘consultant’’ who brokered the deal proposed using as a conduit a type of organisation he admitted is seen as being responsible for the ‘‘’dark money’ in politics’’.
Trump once labelled Super PACs a ‘‘disaster’’ that have ‘‘total control of the candidates’’, and has criticised Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for relying on outside groups.
Undercover reporters posing as consultants acting for a Chinese benefactor approached specific pro-Trump and pro-Clinton fundraisers and groups after receiving information that individuals were involved in hiding foreign donations. Sources also said PACs, ‘‘independent’’ organisations that can raise unlimited sums of money to lobby for or against particular candidates, were being used to circumvent rules. The pro-Clinton organisations did not respond to initial approaches.
This month an undercover reporter spoke by telephone to Beach and Trump’s son Eric. The reporter said a Chinese client wished to donate to the PAC to support Trump’s campaign.
Beach appeared interested despite concerns about nationality and saying he would need to know the donor’s identity. He said the donation could be put through a social welfare organisation called a 501(c)(4) - or C4 - which unlike a PAC is not subject to a ban on receiving foreign money, and not required to name donors.
The reporter received an email from Jesse Benton, a senior figure at the PAC until being convicted in May in connection with buying a senator’s endorsement. He said he was a ‘‘consultant’’ and Beach did not want a ‘‘paper trail’’ of contact. Benton proposed channelling the donation through his own company to mask its origin. It would be passed on to two C4s before being donated by them to the PAC.
Benton said the $2m would ‘‘allow us to spend two million more dollars on digital and TV advertising for Trump’’. The benefactor’s generosity would be ‘‘whispered into Mr Trump’s ear’’. Beach said: ‘‘Trump knows that you know . . . there’s no way that this group won’t be remembered.’’
Yesterday Benton denied ‘‘unethical’’ behaviour. He said he spoke to the reporters after a ‘‘business referral’’ from Beach and that his firm had said ‘‘money could not go into a 501(c)4’’.
Dan Backer, counsel to the PAC, denied Beach asked Benton to act for him. The ‘‘referral’’ was so that ‘‘Mr Benton could explore legal options for your reporters’ alleged client’’. He said ‘‘the PAC has never . . . solicited or accepted contributions from a foreign national or entity’’ and said Beach was suggesting how ‘‘a US company with a foreign parent company could potentially engage in legal political activity’’.
- Telegraph Group