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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.”