LGBTQ news and entertainment
Donald Trump sat down with some big GOP billionaire donors for a steak dinner atop Trump Tower last Sunday. He reportedly spent much time grousing about the huge campaign haul VP Kamala Harris has brought in (over $1 billion since becoming the Democratic nominee) while he feels his donors need to do, help, and appreciate him more. Continue reading “Trump Called Harris ‘Retarded’ At Billionaire Donors Steak Dinner”
Mayor Pete Buttigieg campaigns in Iowa
Elizabeth Warren’s campaign announced on Friday that it raised $24.6 million in the third quarter of 2019. That puts the Massachusetts senator just behind Bernie Sanders, who pulled in $25.3 million. The vast majority of those funds were from small-dollar donations – the average contribution was $26. More than 300,000 new supporters donated for the first time in the third quarter. “This means our grassroots movement is in an incredible position,” the campaign said in a statement, “to double down on our investments in grassroots organizing.” Fund-raising totals announced by other Democratic candidates: • Mayor Pete Buttigieg: $19.1 million • Former Vice President Joe Biden: $15.2 million • Sen. Kamala Harris: $11.6 million • Former tech executive Andrew Yang: $10 million • Sen. Cory Booker: $6 million • Author Marianne Williamson: $3 million
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| Former Nevada lawmaker Kelvin Atkinson |
Former Nevada Senate Majority Leader Kelvin Atkinson pleaded guilty today to withdrawing nearly $250,000 from campaign funds for his personal use.
Atkinson resigned from his Senate seat last week. He was Nevada’s first openly gay Senate leader, and only the third African-American to hold the position.
From Fox5Vegas:
Prosecutors said Atkinson used the funds to operate a Las Vegas night club, make payments on personal credit cards and lease a luxury car, among other expenses, the release said.
Atkinson, 49, represented District 4. He was elected to the Nevada Senate in November 2012 and named majority leader in November 2018, the release said.
Atkinson admitted that between January 2010 to December 2017, he devised a scheme to mislead donors contributing to his campaign by falsely telling them he would use the donations for lawful campaign purposes, but instead used his campaign account for personal expenses, the release said.
Because of the manner in which Atkinson withdrew the money, an exact amount is not known, the release said. But Atkinson admitted to spending nearly $250,000 of unreported withdrawals on personal expenses. His personal spending of campaign funds included $100,000 in payments on his personal credit cards, $75,000 toward opening and operating a night club and $20,000 on leasing a Jaguar SUV, among other expenses.
The statutory maximum sentence for wire fraud is 20 years, the release said. Atkinson has agreed to pay $249,900 in restitution.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.
Atkinson famously came out during a 2013 debate in the Senate regarding repealing Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The following year, he and his husband were among the first same-sex couples to be married in Nevada.
As a proud gay Democratic Nevadan, living in Las Vegas for 15 years, I’m disgusted that Atkinson would be so unethical.
There are no excuses for such a blatant disregard for the law and personal integrity.