The American Justice Department released a statement that Jesse Benton was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday for his involvement in transferring illegal campaign contributions from a Russian national to former President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

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Edited by | Tony wild
politics section CJ journalist
Feb. 18 -2023  agencies

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     Jesse Benton, A GOP political operative was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Friday for his involvement in transferring illegal campaign contributions from a Russian national to former President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

As he planned with another political adviser to send political contributions from the Russian national, who wanted to meet with and take a picture with Trump, to the campaign. Benton then arranged for the individual to meet with and take a picture with Trump without revealing their nationality to the campaign or Trump, court documents state.

The statement said that Benton asked the individual to send him $100,000 to make the contribution so they could meet with Trump. Benton created a fake invoice to claim the funds were payment for consulting work.

Jesse Benton contributed $25,000 to the campaign and kept the remaining $75,000 for himself, according to the statement.