Washington Post: The brazen timeline of the GOP consultant accused of funneling Russian money to Trump’s 2016 effort
See also: Louisville Courier-Journal: Jesse Benton, former campaign manager for Rand Paul and McConnell, facing federal charges and Salon: Ex-Rand Paul aide pardoned by Trump now charged with funneling Russian cash to Trump’s campaign
By AARON BLAKE
In 2012, Jesse Benton was one of the biggest rising stars in the Republican political consulting world. Having made his name working within the fringe-y, more libertarian wing of the party headed by then-Rep. Ron Paul, he helped get Paul’s son Rand Paul elected to the Senate in 2010. Then, in 2012, he made a significant jump: to running the campaign of Kentucky’s other senator, then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R).
What has transpired since then is a stunning series of missteps and accusations that culminated in Benton being indicted Monday for the third time in six years. The alleged scheme: illegally funneling $25,000 from an unnamed Russian national to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign effort.