Conservative commentator and author Dinesh D’Souza allegedly made and arranged $20,000 in campaigndonations to an unnamed campaign in 2012 and then reimbursed those who were directed tomake contributions, according to the indictment by a federal grand jury in New York City.
WASHINGTON – Indo-American filmmakerDinesh D’Souza, whose documentary 2016:Obama’s America took a critical look at PresidentBarack Obama, has been indicted on charges ofusing straw donors to illegally donate to a 2012Senate campaign. And the man charging him isnone other than Indian-American attorney PreetBharara.Conservative commentator andauthor D’Souza allegedly madeand arranged $20,000 in campaigndonations to an unnamedcampaign in 2012 and then reimbursedthose who were directedto make contributions, accordingto the indictment by a federalgrand jury in New York City.Federal election law limits individualcampaign contributions toa federal candidate to $2,500each for a primary and general election campaign.The law also bars any person from making contributionsin the name of others or reimbursinganother person’s contribution.D’Souza, 52, is expected to be arraigned inManhattan federal court on Friday.The filmmaker was charged with one count ofmaking illegal campaign donations in the name ofothers and a second count of making false statementsabout those donations. “As we have longsaid, this office and the FBI take a zero toleranceapproach to corruption of the electoral process,”Preet Bharara, Indian-American US attorney forthe Southern District of New York, said in astatement.”If, as alleged, the defendant directed others tomake contributions to a Senate campaign andreimbursed them, that is a serious violation offederal campaign finance laws.”D’Souza attorney BenjaminBrafman said in a statement theindictment does not allege acorrupt relationship betweenhis client and the candidate.”Simply put, there was no ‘quidpro quo’ in this case, nor wasthere even any knowledge bythe candidate that campaignfinance rules may have beenviolated. D’Souza did not actwith any corrupt or criminalintent whatsoever,” Brafmansaid.”He and the candidate havebeen friends since their college days, and at worst,this was an act of misguided friendship byD’Souza,” he added.D’Souza’s 2012 documentary on Obama whichproved a surprise hit was based on his book TheRoots of Obama’s Rage. He also worked inPresident Ronald Reagan’s White House and forthe American Enterprise Institute and the HooverInstitution, conservative research centres.D’Souza has written more than a dozen books, onsubjects such as terrorism, American values andChristianity. He has announced plans for a newmovie this year, titled America.
