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Trump pardons two of four convicted in case connected to 2012 Caucuses

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December 24th, 2020 by Ric Hanson

(Radio Iowa) – Two of the pardons President Trump has granted involve a criminal case connected to the 2012 Iowa Caucuses.  Four men connected to Ron Paul’s presidential campaign were convicted of concealing payments to a state senator who changed his endorsement from Michele Bachmann to Ron Paul just before the 2012 Iowa Caucuses. Former state Senator Kent Sorenson of Indianola pleaded guilty and a judge sentenced him to 15 months in prison.

The president did not pardon Sorenson, but Trump did pardon two others who were found guilty by a jury. They are John Tate, Ron Paul’s campaign manager, and Jesse Benton, the 2012 campaign’s chairman who is also married to the candidate’s granddaughter.