The Daily Herald revealed on Monday that Scott Kaspar, a Republican running for congress in the Chicago suburbs, used over $20,000 of his campaign money to charter a private plane for Rudy Giuliani.
He allegedly also paid $15,000 to a consulting firm run by former New York City Police Commissioner and another Trump buddy, Bernard Kerik, who had endorsed Kaspar. Kerik was sentenced to prison for tax fraud and granted a pardon by the previous administration.
“Kaspar … spent $18,810 to charter a private jet in May for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, [a] high-profile supporter with Trump ties,” reported Russell Lissau. “Kaspar said the plane was used to bring Kerik and Giuliani — Trump’s former attorney — to the district for a $500-per-person campaign fundraiser and endorsement announcement in Oak Brook. ‘Security is a concern for the mayor, and my campaign was happy to provide the mayor with secure travel accommodations in and out of the district,’ Kaspar said.”
Kasper says he rented the jet to bring Giuliani to his district for a $500 per-person fundraiser and endorsement announcement in Oak Brook.
“Security is a concern for the mayor, and my campaign was happy to provide the mayor with secure travel accommodations in and out of the district,” said Kaspar, who also was on the private flight.
On social media, Kaspar posted a picture of Giuliani, Kerik, and themselves on the jet. Additionally, he tweeted pictures of himself in Trump-owned clubs with Giuliani, Kerik, and Trump. Trump hasn’t backed anyone in the race; Giuliani used to be Trump’s lawyer.
Niki Conforti of Glen Ellyn, Rob Cruz of Oak Lawn, Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso, Catherine A. O’Shea of Oak Lawn, and Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau is the other Republican contenders.
Once their campaigns raise or spend $5,000 or more, congressional candidates are required to submit financial disclosures to the FEC.
The most recent reports were due last week and covered fundraising and spending from April 1 through June 8. Candidates must also disclose any extra contributions that total $1,000 or more this close to an election.
Reports are available to examine at fec.gov.
With more than $25,727 at the beginning of April, Kaspar for Congress raised $89,320 over the course of the month, including $59,224 in loans from Kaspar. Additionally, others gave it $29,426.
During that time, Kaspar’s campaign spent $93,740. In the end, Kaspar owed $203,476 while there was $21,307 saved.
Giuliani is currently under renewed scrutiny for his involvement in a plan by Trump allies to rig the 2020 presidential election by having former Vice President Mike Pence invalidate electoral votes in states won by President Joe Biden. This report comes at a time when Giuliani is under increased scrutiny.
Even while other Trump legal allies like John Eastman, who wrote the document outlining the proposal, privately acknowledged it wasn’t, he has claimed that everything about it was “absolutely lawful.”
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“The newly redrawn 6th District includes much of the West and Southwest suburbs in Cook and DuPage counties,” noted the report. “The Democratic candidates are incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten of Downers Grove; U.S. Rep. Marie Newman, who now represents the 3rd District but opted to run in the 6th after new boundaries were drawn; and Chicagoan Charles Hughes.”
