Mike Levin took possible straw donation from donor behind Hunter Biden art scandal
Vulnerable Democrat Mike Levin’s campaign was bankrolled by the donor behind the Hunter Biden art scandal via a possible “straw donation scheme.”
“After Naftali contributed the legal maximum” to Levin, her son — a minor — donated $1,000 to Levin’s campaign.
“This attempt to circumvent campaign finance laws should have set off alarm bells at Levin HQ, but like Hunter Biden, Mike Levin puts money over ethics.” – NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen
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When Hunter Biden’s Art Patron Hit Federal Contribution Limits, Her Underage Children Kept the Money to Dems Flowing
Washington Free Beacon
Colin Anderson
In September 2015, Hunter Biden art patron Elizabeth Hirsh Naftali sent Hillary Clinton $2,700, the maximum amount she could give the presidential candidate for the upcoming primary election. Just days later, an unusual source stepped forward with more Clinton money: Naftali’s 17-year-old daughter.
Naftali’s daughter—who was in high school at the time—also sent Clinton $2,700, federal disclosures reviewed by the Washington Free Beacon show. The contribution came just 10 days after Naftali was legally barred from giving Clinton more primary campaign cash. In the years that followed, Naftali’s son continued the practice, sending thousands of dollars to California congressman Mike Levin and presidential candidate Kamala Harris after Naftali contributed the legal maximum to both Democrats. Naftali’s son gave Levin $1,000 at age 16 and Harris $2,000 at age 17.
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Federal law allows minors to donate to political campaigns, though they must do so “knowingly and voluntarily” with their own money. Naftali’s children are the beneficiaries of a trust set up by their grandparents, court records obtained by the Free Beacon show, and money they receive from the trust is considered their own income under federal law. Still, Naftali could not direct her children to use money from the trust to contribute to liberal politicians—that decision would have to come from the children themselves.
If Naftali directed or paid her children to make the contributions after she no longer could, she would likely be guilty of running a straw donation scheme. Federal prosecutors have uncovered such schemes in recent months.
“Their parents can’t say, ‘If you donate, we’ll give you your money later, or we’ll give you a really big Christmas gift,'” said Kendra Arnold, executive director of campaign finance watchdog Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust. “The facts in this case line up to indicate that could have happened here.”
The Naftali family did not return a request for comment.