Gov. DeSantis, Rep. McCarthy to Return Scrutinized Money

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., are returning money their campaigns received from two businessman arrested in Florida who had ties to President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and were part of the pressure campaign on Ukraine to investigate Democrats, Axios reports.

Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman were arrested Wednesday night and charged with attempting to funnel foreign money into U.S. politics using a shell corporation, Global Energy Producers. The pair was charged with making illegal campaign donations.

“Campaign finance laws exist for a reason,” William F. Sweeney Jr., the top agent in the FBI’s New York office, said during a press conference Thursday. “The American people expect and deserve an election process that hasn’t been corrupted by the influence of foreign interests, and the public has a right to know the true source of campaign contributions.”

DeSantis’ campaign received $50,000 from the LLC while McCarthy received $2,700 directly from the donors.

Sen. Rick Scott’s, R-Fla., victory fund also received a $15,000 donation from Fruman last year, although a spokesman for the lawmaker did not respond to a Miami Herald request for a comment.

DeSantis’ spokeswoman said his PAC was returning the money to the federal government.

“The allegations regarding Global Energy Producers to the governor’s affiliated political action committee in 2018 are troubling,” Helen Ferré wrote in an email.