RI GOP Insider Named One of the Worst Ethics Violator in America, Faces Potential Charges
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Rhode Islander Russell Taub runs with the biggest names in the Republican Party in America. From Vice President Mike Pence to Texas U.S. Senator Ted Cruz to former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, Taub can be seen with everyone at events in West Palm to Las Vegas and the Nation’s Capital
A national, non-partisan ethics watchdog group has named RI GOP insider Taub as one of the most unethical politicians in America -- and Taub is now facing a federal probe.
SEE PHOTOS OF TAUB AND LEADER REPUBLICANS BELOW.
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, former Rhode Island Republican congressional candidate H. Russell Taub, “for operating an illegal scam operation.”
The organization named Taub's PAC one of the worst ethics violators in America. The group also identified U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris as well as GOP leader Mitch McConnell. See the full list HERE.
According to one report, federal prosecutors assert "Taub withdrew 'nearly $100,000' in cash, transferred more than $715,000 into his personal bank accounts, and spent more than $217,000 on personal expenses including airfare, hotel rooms, restaurant meals, clothes, cigars, strip club visits and 'escort services.'" The report by the Providence Journal claims that there is a plea deal in place and Taub will be formally charged on Friday.
According to FACT’s complaint, KAIRC PAC has (1) failed to register as a political committee, (2) failed to publicly acknowledge through a disclaimer on its website that it is a political committee and (3) failed to distribute over $1.5 million raised to any federal candidates for federal committees.
By its own admission, KAIRC PAC raises money to influence federal elections. On July 10, 2018, the PAC sent a fundraising email in support of Florida Governor Rick Scott. In that email, the group boasts that it has “helped over 85 candidates, scheduled multiple fundraisers to help candidates in 2018, raised over $1.5 million as of June 30, 2018, and launched 9 support ads to help our candidates.”
To date, KAIRC PAC has not registered with the FEC as a political committee despite raising funds as early as February, 2017.
FACT pointed to the following section of election law in its complaint:
“11 CFR section 101.2(d) plainly requires political committees to file a Statement of Organization (Form 1) within 10 days of becoming a political committee. According to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, ‘any committee, club, association, or other group of persons which receives contributions aggregating in excess of $1,000 or which makes expenditures aggregating in excess of $1,000 during a calendar year is a political committee.’”
Furthermore, it appears that the over $1.5 million raised by KAIRC PAC has not been distributed to any federal candidates or committees. A search of the FEC website shows zero contributions made by “any person or entity named ‘KAIRC PAC’ or ‘Keeping America in Republican Control PAC.’”
“There is no doubt KAIRC PAC and its Executive Director are engaged in some very nefarious and potentially criminal behavior,” said Kendra Arnold, Executive Director, Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust (FACT). “How an organization can claim to raise over $1.5 million and spend it with no public accounting or paper trail of any kind leads to just two conclusions. Either KAIRC PAC didn’t actually raise the money it claims it raised or it is being spent on non-political activities. Either way, an investigation is needed immediately.”
Finally, on the KAIRC PAC website, Mr. Taub touts himself as an “Ambassador” to the International Human Rights Commission, a Ukrainian organization founded in 2014. Given the Taub’s clear ties to Ukraine, FACT is asking the FEC if any of the supposed funds raised came from foreign nationals. That would also be a clear and blatant election law violation.
“The public should be able to contribute to candidates and causes they believe in with assurances that their hard-earned money is actually going to those efforts. Any attempt to mislead contributors is not only stealing but undermines the electoral process,” Kendra Arnold of FACT said.