Longtime political operative Kenneth Smukler, 58, of Villanova, Pennsylvania, has been convicted of making and concealing illegal campaign contributions in two Congressional primary elections, and of obstructing justice in an investigation by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
A jury sitting in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania delivered the verdict, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
“Today's convictions demonstrate the Department of Justice's commitment to ensuring a level playing field in the financing of federal elections,” said Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski. “We will hold accountable those who violate campaign finance and other laws designed to protect the fairness and transparency of our democracy.”
“Smukler was the mastermind of multiple crooked political schemes,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “He showed a true pattern of deception by misusing funds and lying to corrupt the entire political process. The only way to guarantee open and fair elections is to have everyone play by the same rules. Smukler ignored those rules and broke the law so that his candidates could try to win at all costs. We are grateful that the jury saw through his lies and held him accountable for his widespread criminal conduct.”
The jury found Smukler guilty of conspiracy to violate federal law, making and causing unlawful campaign contributions, and causing false statements to the FEC in connection with a 2012 congressional primary campaign in a Philadelphia-area Congressional district. The jury further found Smukler guilty of making and causing unlawful campaign contributions, causing the filing of false reports to the FEC concerning contributions and expenditures, causing false statements to the FEC in connection with a 2014 congressional primary campaign in another Philadelphia-area Congressional district, and obstructing an FEC investigation.
In 2012, Smukler engaged in a conspiracy to make a concealed payment of $90,000 to Congressional candidate and former Philadelphia Municipal Judge Jimmie Moore to get Judge Moore to drop out of the primary election race. Smukler, who worked for another candidate, orchestrated the payment of the money through his own companies, a shell company of Judge Moore's campaign manager, Carolyn Cavaness, and another campaign consultant, D.A. Jones. Judge Moore, Cavaness, and Jones all have pleaded guilty separately.
From 2014 through 2015, Smukler, as a campaign manager, also made, caused, and concealed excess and conduit contributions and engaged in a falsification and obstruction scheme involving a different Congressional candidate. The excess contributions came from associates of Smukler and were funneled through two of Smukler's consulting companies. The conduit contributions were routed through another political consultant and the candidate.
A detailed report of the convictions will be filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The case was investigated by the Federal Election Commission and the FBI, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Mandatory Facts: Defendant Kenneth Smukler, 58, of Villanova, Pennsylvania, was convicted of federal campaign finance crimes and obstruction of justice. Charges: Conspiracy to violate federal law, making and causing unlawful campaign contributions, causing false statements to the FEC. City and State: Villanova, Pennsylvania. Date: Not specified. Sentence: Not specified. Dollar amounts: $90,000 in 2012 and $78,750 in 2014, and $150,000 in 2014.
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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