Jesse Benton

Jesse Benton
Benton at a book signing at Iowa State University in 2011
Born
Jesse Reeves Benton

(1977-10-04) October 4, 1977 (age 47)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materMary Washington College
OccupationPolitical consultant
Political partyRepublican
SpouseValori Pyeatt
Children1
Benton with Ron Paul (2012)

Jesse Reeves Benton (born October 4, 1977) is an American political operative, convicted felon, writer, and entrepreneur. Benton is closely associated with the Paul family, having served as a campaign manager for both Ron Paul and Rand Paul. He is married to Valori Pyeatt, Ron Paul's granddaughter.[1]

Benton served as the campaign manager of Republican Mitch McConnell, until resigning on August 29, 2014, amid rumors surrounding campaign finance allegations during the 2012 presidential election.[2] On August 5, 2015, Benton was indicted by a grand jury on charges arising from an alleged coverup to conceal the expenditure of campaign money to hire an Iowa politician.[3] Four of the five charges were initially thrown out because of misconduct by the prosecutor.[4] Benton was found not guilty at trial on charges of making false statements.[5]

Benton was subsequently re-indicted and was found guilty of conspiring to cause false records to the Federal Election Commission.[6] Benton was given two years probation.[7] He was pardoned by President Donald Trump on December 23, 2020.[8]

Benton was indicted in September 2021 for illegally funneling money he received from a Russian national into the 2016 campaign of Donald Trump.[9][10] Benton was convicted on November 17, 2022, and sentenced to 18 months in prison on February 17, 2023.[11][12]

  1. ^ Service, RONNIE ELLISCNHI News. "Benton to manage McConnell's 2014 re-election campaign". The Independent Online. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  2. ^ "Mitch McConnell's campaign manager resigns after Iowa bribery scandal deepens | U.S. Senate Election | Kentucky.com". Archived from the original on 2014-08-31.
  3. ^ Jacobs, Ben (August 5, 2015). "Ron Paul's top 2012 campaign staff members indicted on felony charges" – via www.theguardian.com.
  4. ^ "Judge Drops Multiple Charges Against Jesse Benton". Roll Call. 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  5. ^ "Former Paul aide Jesse Benton acquitted in campaign fraud case". Politico.
  6. ^ Pitt, David. "Court upholds convictions of 2012 Ron Paul campaign staffers". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  7. ^ Rodgers, Grant (September 20, 2016). "Top Ron Paul aide Jesse Benton avoids prison". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved 2021-06-02.
  8. ^ Austin, Emma. "President Trump grants pardon for Louisville activist Christopher 2X". The Courier-Journal.
  9. ^ Graziosi, Graig (March 7, 2022). "Ex-Rand Paul aide pardoned by Trump is charged with funneling Russian money into 2016 election". The Independent.
  10. ^ "GOP operative found guilty of funneling Russian money to Donald Trump". The Washington Post. 2022-11-17. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12.
  11. ^ "GOP operative found guilty of funneling Russian money to Donald Trump". The Washington Post. 2022-11-17. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  12. ^ Rabinowitz, Hannah (February 17, 2023). "GOP operative gets 1.5 years in prison for facilitating illegal Russian donation to Trump 2016 campaign". CNN.