A major funder of San Diego County politics is being investigated by the Justice Department for an alleged effort to sell influence with the Trump administration, The Washington Post reported on Friday.
Investigators are looking into whether Elliott Broidy, a longtime Republican fundraiser, has been working on behalf of Chinese and Malaysian officials to curry favor with the federal government, the Post reports.
Broidy attorney Chris Clark said in a statement: “Elliott Broidy has never agreed to work for, been retained by nor been compensated by any foreign government for any interaction with the United States Government, ever. Any implication to the contrary is a lie.”
In San Diego County, Broidy has had his hand in local Republican politics. Broidy’s investment firm, Broidy Capital Management, has been the largest donor to the San Diego County Republican Party since January 2017, contributing $100,000.
Screenshot of Republican donor Elliott Broidy’s business website. (broidycapital.com)
That money came to the party through two $50,000 donations this year, on May 15 and May 10, according to financial reports filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
Broidy is also the largest donor to Reform California, a committee to repeal the state gas tax increase, giving $25,000 to the campaign on May 14. The committee chair is Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego city councilman and conservative talk radio show host on AM San Diego station KOGO.
Reform California has raised more than $1.2 million this year from more than 4,800 donors, mostly from San Diego County. About 1,800 of those donors contributed $100 or less, according to campaign finance reports.
Tony Krvaric, chairman of the county Republican Party, told inewsource on Friday the party does not comment on its supporters. The county party has raised more than $1.6 million in contributions since January 2017.
Reform California and Broidy Capital Management could not immediately be reached for comment.
Broidy served as national vice chairman of the Trump Victory Campaign for the 2016 election. After the election, Broidy was chosen to serve as national deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee. He previously served on the Homeland Security Advisory Council for President George W. Bush’s administration.
In April, Broidy resigned from his role with the RNC after reports revealed that Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen paid $1.6 million on Broidy’s behalf to a Playboy playmate who said Broidy impregnated her. The deal prevented her from speaking out about the agreement, according to the Wall Street Journal.
UPDATED at 6:20 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17: Story now includes statement from Broidy’s attorney.
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