GOP campaign consultant sentenced to 18 months for arranging Russian contribution to Trump campaign

WASHINGTON – A longtime Republican political consultant was sentenced to 18 months in prison Friday after arranging for a Russian national to contribute illegally to former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign – the second time he’s been convicted of campaign violations.

Jesse Benton, 45, of Woodlands, Texas, had charged Russian national Roman Vasilenko $100,000 to have a picture taken with Trump on Sept. 22, 2016, at the Ritz Carlton in Philadelphia, according to court records.

Benton's company Titan Strategies pocketed $75,000 of the fee and passed along the remaining $25,000 as a contribution to Trump’s campaign committee, Trump Victory, and the Republican National Committee. Trump Victory, the Trump campaign and RNC each unwittingly reported falsely to the Federal Election Commission that Benton made the contribution rather than Vasilenko, according to court records. Foreigners aren’t allowed to contribute to U.S. campaigns.

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A federal jury convicted Benton in November of conspiracy with co-defendant Doug Wead, of making electoral contributions by foreign nationals, electoral contributions in the name of another person, and causing false records.

Benton has worked on numerous Republican campaigns, including for Kentucky Sens. Mitch McConnell in 2014 and Rand Paul in 2010, and former Rep. Ron Paul’s presidential bid in 2012. In 2016, Benton served as chief strategist for Great America PAC, a committee supporting Trump.

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Benton had been convicted of similar federal charges of conspiracy, causing false records and causing false campaign expenditure reports in Iowa in 2016, associated with Ron Paul’s campaign. In that case, Benton was sentenced to probation and home confinement after pleading his career was over as a sole breadwinner for his wife and daughter in Texas.

Trump pardoned Benton before leaving office in 2021.

U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden sentenced Benton to prison.

“Defendant’s conduct here was brazen, intentional and unrepentant,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memo.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: GOP consultant gets prison for arranging Russian contribution to Trump