Two top political strategists for U.S. Rep. Robert Brady (D., Pa.) on Tuesday became the latest targets in a widening federal probe of $90,000 the congressman paid a 2012 primary challenger to drop out of the race.
The money was meant to cover debts Moore incurred during his short-lived race — including more than $80,000 the former judge had personally loaned his own campaign, Moore said.
Because federal campaign contribution limits at the time capped the amount that one candidate could give another campaign at $2,000 for a primary election, Smukler and Jones funneled the money from Brady’s campaign coffers to Moore’s by routing it through their companies, according to Tuesday’s indictment.