• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / News / Two Ron Paul aides sentenced for secret pay to Iowa lawmaker

Two Ron Paul aides sentenced for secret pay to Iowa lawmaker

September 20, 2016 By O. Kay Henderson

Kent Sorenson

Kent Sorenson

Two of three Ron Paul campaign aides found guilty of secretly funnelling campaign money to a former Iowa legislator have been sentenced to six months home confinement, but no jail time.

Jesse Benton was the chairman of Ron Paul’s 2012 presidential campaign. He’s also married to the candidate’s granddaughter. Both Benton and the manager of Ron Paul’s campaign have been sentenced to two years probation for the scheme and each must pay a 10,000 dollar fine.

This case revolves around former state Senator Kent Sorenson of Milo. Sorenson was chairman of Michele Bachmann’s 2012 Iowa campaign, but Sorenson switched his support to Ron Paul just before the Caucuses. Sorenson testified he that made the jump after the Paul camp offered to find a way to secretly pay him thousands of dollars. Prosecutors say Benton and two other Ron Paul campaign officials conspired to pay Sorenson $73,000. They routed checks through two other companies before Sorenson got the money.

A third man who was Ron Paul’s deputy campaign manager is to be sentenced tomorrow morning.

Sorenson initially complained he was the subject of a “witch hunt” when a state senate committee began investigating the allegations. He resigned from the state senate in October of 2013. He eventually pleaded guilty on federal charges and testified in court against the three Ron Paul staffers. Sorenson has not yet been sentenced. Sorenson violated senate ethics rules by being paid by a presidential campaign.

Prosecutors say Ron Paul’s campaign aides committed a crime by submitting false financial disclosure documents that hid how the payments were being made to Sorenson.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Iowa Caucuses, Republican Party

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC