Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Manager Resigns After Bribery Scandal Deepens

Posted by | August 29, 2014 18:58 | Filed under: Politics Top Stories

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After former Iowa state senatorKent Sorenson pleaded guilty in federal court to crimes related to accepting payment from a presidential campaign during Iowa’s 2012 presidential caucus, Mitch McConnell’s campaign manager has resigned.

Jesse Benton, the campaign manager for U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, denied complicity in the scandal and blamed “inaccurate press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors.”

Benton was serving on Ron Paul’s presidential campaign in 2012 and  previously denied that there was any sort of payoff involved in getting Kent Sorenson to endorse Paul.

Benton reportedly met with McConnell on Friday afternoon to offer his resignation, which McConnell “reluctantly accepted.”

Benton said he offered his resignation, effective Saturday, with a “heavy heart.”

“This decision breaks my heart, but I know it is the right thing for Mitch, for Kentucky and for the country,” Benton said.

Kentucky.com reports that Sorenson’s guilty plea included two sealed documents, which could threaten to involve Benton.

In a statement provided first to the Herald-Leader, Benton said there “is no more important cause for both Kentucky, my new home I have come to love, and our country than electing Mitch McConnell Majority Leader of the United States Senate.”

“I believe this deep in my bones, and I would never allow anything or anyone to get in the way,” Benton wrote. “That includes myself.”

Benton said in his statement that “there have been inaccurate press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors about me and my role in past campaigns that are politically motivated, unfair and, most importantly, untrue.”

“I hope those who know me recognize that I strive to be a man of integrity,” Benton said. “The press accounts and rumors are particularly hurtful because they are false.”

But Benton said he found it more “troubling” that the rumors “risk unfairly undermining and becoming a distraction to this re-election campaign.”

“Working for Mitch McConnell is one of the great honors of my life,” Benton said. “He is a friend a mentor and a great man this commonwealth desperately needs. I cannot, and will not, allow any possibility that my circumstances will effect the voters’ ability to hear his message and assess his record. This election is far too important and the stakes way too high.”

Benton is married to the older Paul’s granddaughter.

During a secret recording last year, Benton said he was “holding my nose” working for McConnell in an effort to better position Rand Paul for a 2016 White House run.

Image: Kentucky.com

 

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26 responses to Mitch McConnell’s Campaign Manager Resigns After Bribery Scandal Deepens

  1. tiredoftea August 29th, 2014 at 19:05

    Well, now he can stop holding his nose!

  2. tiredoftea August 29th, 2014 at 19:05

    Well, now he can stop holding his nose!

  3. Cosmic_Surfer August 29th, 2014 at 19:09

    Surprised he resigned – isn’t his behavior SOP?

  4. Cosmic_Surfer August 29th, 2014 at 19:09

    Surprised he resigned – isn’t his behavior SOP?

  5. NW10 August 29th, 2014 at 19:13

    ALG campaign better jump on this fast!

  6. (((NW10,PATRIOT! ✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ))) August 29th, 2014 at 19:13

    ALG campaign better jump on this fast!

  7. KB723 August 29th, 2014 at 19:26

    Methinkz Mitch is going to have his Ass handed to him….
    http://youtu.be/kgBN2fw9bLk

  8. KB723 August 29th, 2014 at 19:26

    Methinkz Mitch is going to have his Ass handed to him….
    http://youtu.be/kgBN2fw9bLk

  9. Ol Blue August 29th, 2014 at 19:32

    I would like to think that flop sweat photo of Mitch was taken at the moment he was told of the resignation. A little bit surprised. A little bit watching his political career circle the drain.

  10. Ol Blue August 29th, 2014 at 19:32

    I would like to think that flop sweat photo of Mitch was taken at the moment he was told of the resignation. A little bit surprised. A little bit watching his political career circle the drain.

  11. Linda1961 August 29th, 2014 at 19:35

    I’ve always doubted that the gop would take the Senate, but thought that McConnell would eke out a win. However, it looks like ALG has a real chance at winning.

    • Tommy6860 August 29th, 2014 at 21:55

      I live in N. Ky (just across the river from Cincinnati) and I can tell you that most people where I live are going to vote for Mitch and where I live is liberal comparatively. For every ALG political ad shown at any given time, Mitch has 5 showing (not that Mitch has 5 more separate ads, just the amount of times they are shown). And almost all of them tie her to Obama and it is working. Kinda like how McCain was tied to Bush in the 2008 ads, they made him look bad and Obama is not popular here at all.

      While I am hoping for her to win, I am doubtful that Alison will, but it will be close. Her main problem is, she can’t (or won’t by advice) commit to any platform or one big issue. It’s just all about how Mitch is a long tenured connected senator and that he needs to go. While she’s right, it isn’t convincing. I can only hope that secret tape and the Jesse Benton debacle hurts him (waiting for an ad to come on that).

      But ask her about the ACA, she won’t comment. Ask her about coal, she won’t comment. And she won’t touch immigration like it’s the plague. Her website only talks about her vaguely creating jobs, nothing more. The only real thing she ever mentions is the school loan debt problem and the wealthy getting too many tax breaks in her campaigns speeches. I know it’s politics and I’ll vote for her, but I’ll do so reluctantly.

      • Linda1961 August 30th, 2014 at 03:39

        It seems that the Democrats who are committing to at least one big issue are doing pretty well, even in red states. That should be a lesson to ones like ALG, who seem to be taking bad advice. A candidate has to stand for something, not just be against her opponent.

        • Tommy6860 August 30th, 2014 at 03:56

          Yep! And it’s odd really that she won’t touch ACA, even though it is very popular here. But Mitch won’t touch that either, but he’s going for the Obama tie-in and she needs something. I do think supporting ACA in her campaign would help her, if she could frame it in a way to those who vote red that Mitch wants to take away their coverage.

  12. Linda1961 August 29th, 2014 at 19:35

    I’ve always doubted that the gop would take the Senate, but thought that McConnell would eke out a win. However, it looks like ALG has a real chance at winning.

    • Tommy6860 August 29th, 2014 at 21:55

      I live in N. Ky (just across the river from Cincinnati) and I can tell you that most people where I live are going to vote for Mitch and where I live is liberal comparatively. For every ALG political ad shown at any given time, Mitch has 5 showing (not that Mitch has 5 more separate ads, just the amount of times they are shown). And almost all of them tie her to Obama and it is working. Kinda like how McCain was tied to Bush in the 2008 ads, they made him look bad and Obama is not popular here at all.

      While I am hoping for her to win, I am doubtful that Alison will, but it will be close. Her main problem is, she can’t (or won’t by advice) commit to any platform or one big issue. It’s just all about how Mitch is a long tenured connected senator and that he needs to go. While she’s right, it isn’t convincing. I can only hope that secret tape and the Jesse Benton debacle hurts him (waiting for an ad to come on that).

      But ask her about the ACA, she won’t comment. Ask her about coal, she won’t comment. And she won’t touch immigration like it’s the plague. Her website only talks about her vaguely creating jobs, nothing more. The only real thing she ever mentions is the school loan debt problem and the wealthy getting too many tax breaks in her campaigns speeches. I know it’s politics and I’ll vote for her, but I’ll do so reluctantly.

      • Linda1961 August 30th, 2014 at 03:39

        It seems that the Democrats who are committing to at least one big issue are doing pretty well, even in red states. That should be a lesson to ones like ALG, who seem to be taking bad advice. A candidate has to stand for something, not just be against her opponent.

        • Tommy6860 August 30th, 2014 at 03:56

          Yep! And it’s odd really that she won’t touch ACA, even though it is very popular here. But Mitch won’t touch that either, but he’s going for the Obama tie-in and she needs something. I do think supporting ACA in her campaign would help her, if she could frame it in a way to those who vote red that Mitch wants to take away their coverage.

  13. Obewon August 29th, 2014 at 20:15

    Even McConnell’s campaign manager is helping to #DitchMitch @Team_Mitch is ‘under fire’ today after leaked secret audio rocks #KYSen race. https://twitter.com/AlisonForKY

  14. Obewon August 29th, 2014 at 20:15

    Even McConnell’s campaign manager is helping to #DitchMitch @Team_Mitch is ‘under fire’ today after leaked secret audio rocks #KYSen race. https://twitter.com/AlisonForKY

  15. RK Johnston August 29th, 2014 at 21:08

    Hear that, Mitch?
    Hear the howlng outside your door?
    It’s the wolves that are coming for you…and it’s later than you realize.
    –RKJ

  16. RK Johnston August 29th, 2014 at 21:08

    Hear that, Mitch?
    Hear the howlng outside your door?
    It’s the wolves that are coming for you…and it’s later than you realize.
    –RKJ

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