RI’s International Man of Mystery—Russell Taub—Facing Potential Federal Charges
Friday, February 22, 2019
Russell Taub was endorsed as a candidate for U.S. Congress by Vice President Mike Pence, claims the title of “Ambassador” and says he was named a Kentucky Colonel.
Now, Taub is in the midst of serious trouble with the United States Justice Department for the misuse of political donations and the failure to comply with numerous federal campaign laws.
Taub, who is just three years out of Johnson and Wales University, has run for Congress, built relations with top Republicans all over the country and made hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations and appears in photos with top Republicans.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT) last summer asked the Federal Election Commission (FEC) for an immediate investigation into Keeping America in Republican Control (KAIRC PAC) and its Executive Director Taub, “for operating an illegal scam operation.”
The organization has named Taub's PAC one of the worst ethics violators in America. The group of violators also identified by the group includes U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris as well as GOP leader Mitch McConnell. See the full list HERE.
SLIDES: SEE PHOTO GALLERY OF TAUB AND GOP LEADERS BELOW
Taub’s Father Top NY Finance Executive
Taub grew up in New Jersey. He attended Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, an affluent suburb of New York City.
Taub’s late father was Executive Managing Director of Strategic Business Development for Standard & Poor's Corporation, but according to his obituary in the New York Times, “In 1986, Roy went on to head the then newly-created Insurance Ratings Department, establishing S&P as the global leader in insurance ratings. He formed and became the first head of S&P Risk Solutions in 2000, and in 2005, was appointed head of Strategic Business Development.”
The senior Taub died in January of 2014.
Ambassadorship While a Junior in College
Taub was named “Ambassador” in 2014, according to a five-year-old version of the International Human Rights Commission. The group is tied to the Czech Republic and interests in Ukraine and claims an office in Nigeria. It is unclear the criteria that the organization uses to bestow the title of "ambassador" upon its recipients.
The group’s mission is “dedicated to protecting the human rights of people around the world and promoting the culture of Peace among nations.”
T. Kevin Olasanoye, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Democratic Party, expressed outrage Thursday afternoon over the news that a scam G.O.P political action committee, “Keeping America in Republican Control” (KAIRC,) led by H. Russell Taub allegedly violated federal law to the tune of $1.5 million.
“We are grateful that the truth about the dark money that poured into this campaign account has finally be brought to light and applaud the Justice Department for highlighting this blatant and reckless violation of the law,” Olasanoye said.
“Perhaps as concerning as the egregious nature of Mr. Taub’s criminal conduct is the fact that the current G.O.P. Chairman, Brandon Bell, and those vying to succeed him vanished into hibernation while Taub was defrauding his contributors during the election cycle. That is the only plausible explanation for why the self-appointed good governance watchdogs in the RI GOP matched their alleges “concerns” over his behavior with no meaningful action. It’s hardly a profile in courage to call Mr. Taub’s actions despicable in an email after an indictment."
Big Donations to National Republicans
While Taub ran for Congress in Rhode Island, the political money game he played was a national game.
His total donations to Rhode Island Republicans was about $10,000 and those donations began in 2013. GOP Attorney General candidate Dawson Hodgson received a $500 donation while Taub was just a junior at Johnson and Wales. According to his self-reporting his “employer” varied from “student” to “Taub Feuer Associates” to “self-employed” to “International Human Rights Commission”
Outside of Rhode Island Taub made the big donations — hundreds of thousands of dollars were given to Governors, Senators and key GOP political committees.
He made more than 250 donations to GOP leaders like U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. He made four donations totaling $5,900 to the Texas Senator. He also gave $5,400 to Arizona U.S. Senator Martha McSally — a Rhode Island native.
In 2018, he donated more than $10,000 to the Republican Congressional Campaign Committee.
He gave the Republican Party of New Jersey $7,000.
And, he gave $5,000 to the Republican Party of Kentucky and donated $1,948 dollars to Republican Governor of Kentucky Matt Bevins according to Kentucky Registry of Campaign Finance reports.
About this time, Taub began to claim that he has been named a Kentucky Colonel.
“The Kentucky Colonels does not appoint or commission Kentucky Colonels. That can only be done by the sitting Governor of the Commonwealth. Only the Governor knows the reason for bestowing the honor of a Colonel’s Commission on any particular individual,” says the organization.
Despite being under a federal probe, Taub recently popped up at a December Washington D.C. reception celebrating President Donald Trump signed into law, H.R. 754, the “Anwar Sadat Centennial Celebration Act.” The event was attended by Isreali leaders and top members of Congress.
Related Slideshow: GOP Operative Russell Taub’s Connections - See Who’s Who
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