SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Late last week, two associates of Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, were arrested as they attempted to flee the United States. The two were charged with allegedly conspiring to funnel foreign money to Republican politicians and candidates for the purpose of buying influence in U.S. – Ukraine relations.
As the Pioneer Press reported, multiple Minnesota Republicans received money from Parnas and Fruman, including Jason Lewis, the Minnesota Republican Party, and the National Republican Congressional Committee, run by Tom Emmer.
While the NRCC and Republican officials in other states have returned the money they got from Parnas and Fruman, including Brian Mast, Kevin McCarthy, Joe Wilson, Brian Fitzpatrick, Lloyd Smucker, and John Katko, Jason Lewis and MN GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan have thus far refused to return or donate the contributions.
Pete Stauber and Jim Hagedorn received significant support from America First, a Super-PAC that Parnas and Fruman funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to through a front company the two men created. America First spent $3.3 million to benefit Stauber, their largest spend nationally on a single race. America First spent $1.7 million to benefit Hagedorn, their sixth largest spend nationally.
Last Friday, Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin called on Minnesota Republicans to return direct contributions from Parnas and Fruman and to clearly and unequivocally denounce foreign interference in United States elections. Lewis and Carnahan have failed to return their contributions, and Lewis, Carnahan, Stauber, and Hagedorn have failed to denounce foreign interference in United States elections.
DFL Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Jason Lewis, Pete Stauber, Jim Hagedorn, and Jennifer Carnahan’s craven failure to condemn foreign meddling in U.S. elections, including President Trump’s solicitation of election interference by the Ukranian and Chinese governments, is both unacceptable and unAmerican.By failing to speak out, Minnesota Republicans are lending tacit support to hostile foreign governments and bad actors across the globe who are weaponizing American democracy for their own benefit.
“Furthermore, it is appalling that Jason Lewis and Jennifer Carnahan are refusing to return money from two men facing indictment for trying to buy off politicians using illegal foreign campaign money. Numerous Republican officials have returned contributions from these alleged criminals, but all we have heard from Lewis and Carnahan is deafening silence.
“Our political leaders often face difficult decisions that require courage and moral fortitude to navigate, but rejecting and condemning illegal foreign meddling in U.S. elections should not be one of those difficult decisions. One has to wonder why Minnesota Republicans are so eager to ignore or excuse away foreign attempts to subvert and weaponize American democracy.”