Federal Investigation Continues As Ami Bera’s Father Sentenced For Election Fraud

August 19, 2016

Bera questionsThe federal investigation of the massive straw donor scheme that illegally funneled more than $265,000 to Ami Bera’s congressional campaigns continues after his father was sentenced yesterday to 1 year and 1 day in prison for his part in the crime. While Ami Bera claims to have no knowledge of the scheme, “a retired FBI agent who worked on high-profile public corruption probes” said it “defies reasoning” that Ami Bera wouldn’t have known something was amiss.

After the sentencing, the Justice Department made clear that “the U.S. Government takes these crimes seriously and will spare no effort to defend the integrity of the electoral process which is the foundation of American democracy.”

Prosecutors have raised the possibility that Ami Bera would not be in Congress if it weren’t for these illegal activities. Given the seriousness of the crime and the danger to the “foundation of American democracy,” will the ongoing investigation be wrapped up by Election Day? With the identities of the 90 straw donors still unknown, voters cannot know the full breadth of the scheme with just 80 days until voting concludes.

NRCC Comment: “The Bera family’s illegal campaign finance scheme was a serious crime that impacted multiple elections. It is beyond belief that Ami Bera was unaware of the complex and wide-ranging machinations that illegally funneled nearly $270,000 to his campaigns. As the federal investigation continues, voters deserve to know the full story before Election Day.” – NRCC Spokesman Zach Hunter