Rhode Island Republican Fundraiser Admits To $1M Fraud

PROVIDENCE, RI — A former Rhode Island candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives pleaded guilty to wire fraud and campaign finance violations in federal court on Thursday. Harold Taub, 30, of Cranston, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act. According to the Department of Justice, the fraud occurred in late 2016, when Taub started collecting donations for the organization Keeping America in Republican Control, which purported to fund Republican campaigns on both the state and federal level.

In March of 2018, Taub again began fundraising, this time for an organization titled Keeping Ohio in Republican Control, the department said. Between the two organizations, he amassed more than $1.6 million, the department said, and he never registered with the Federal Election Commission as required by federal law.

In court on Thursday, Taub admitted that he advertised both organizations as legitimate political action committees on his website, social media and through emails sent to donors. While he reported that all contributions went to candidate support because organization's staff was entirely made up of volunteers, the Department of Justice says Taub used more than $1 million of the funds for personal use.

Even after being expressly told not to, Taub admitted to using the name of an unidentified former ambassador and high-ranking military official as part of his scheme.

Taub ran for Rhode Island's first congressional district in 2016, losing the seat to incumbent David Cicilline with over 35 percent compared to Cicilline's 65 percent.

Taub will be sentenced on July 12.