Press Release
DFL Calls on Minnesota Republicans to Donate Cash Received from GOP Strategist Arrested for Underage Sex Trafficking
08/12/2021
Minnesota Republican candidates and organizations received over $150,000 from indicted GOP strategist
Today, following the arrest of Minnesota Republican operative Anton Lazzaro for underage sex trafficking, Minnesota DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin is calling on numerous Minnesota Republicans to donate the money they received from Lazzaro to anti-trafficking organizations.
According to the Department of Justice, Lazzaro was “arrested and indicted on federal sex trafficking charges for allegedly recruiting six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts.” The FBI believes there may be additional victims. Lazzaro has donated roughly $150,000 to Minnesota Republican candidates, party units, and allied organizations.
Lazzaro’s contributions to Minnesota Republicans include:
Congressman Jim Hagedorn | $31,000 |
Congressman Tom Emmer | $15,600 |
Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach | $1,000 |
Congressman Emmer’s NRCC | $10,000 |
Congressman Pete Stauber | $8,000 |
Doug Wardlow for Attorney General | $1,150 |
Kendall Qualls for Congress – via Lazzaro’s PAC | $4,800 |
House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt | $1,000 |
Senator Karin Housley | $1,500 |
The Minnesota Republican Party – Federal Account | $21,178 |
The Minnesota Republican Party – State Account | $21,030 |
33rd Senate District Republican Party of Minnesota | $800 |
59th Senate District Republican Party of Minnesota | $1,550 |
5th Congressional District Republican Party of Minnesota | $775 |
Log Cabin Republicans | $500 |
MN Young Republican Victory Fund | $3,200 |
Freedom Club | $30,000 |
Jesse Pfliger for House | $750 |
Ben Schwanke for State Senate | $1,000 |
Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota DFL Party, released the following statement:
“The crimes that Republican strategist and donor Anton Lazzaro was indicted and arrested for are absolutely horrifying. It is also extremely disturbing that a man arrested for sexually trafficking six minors has such deep ties to so many Minnesota Republican officials, candidates, and organizations, particularly Republican Party Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan and her husband, Congressman Jim Hagedorn.
“Carnahan, who also invited Lazzaro to co-host the Minnesota Republican Party podcast, must denounce Lazzaro immediately. However, it is not enough for Carnahan and other Minnesota Republicans to just denounce and disavow Lazzaro after collectively accepting over $150,000 from him. As such, I am calling on each and every elected official, candidate, and organization that received a cent from this predator to donate those funds to an anti-trafficking organization.”