A newly formed political action committee backed by anti-Trump lawyer Michael Avenatti, charged last week with domestic violence, is organizing for Senate Democratic candidate Mike Espy.
Left of Center was launched in Massachusetts in October with the high-profile help of Avenatti, the lawyer for Trump accuser and porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Their fundraising and organizing effort comes while the lawyer is facing domestic abuse charges involving an actress.
Since the charges were filed, some Democratic groups have cut ties to Avenatti. The Vermont Democratic Party, for example, cancelled events featuring Avenatti and refunded ticket sales.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Avenatti Appearances Cancelled Due to Allegations of Domestic Violence
The Vermont Democratic Party has cancelled Mr. Avenatti’s forthcoming scheduled appearances in Vermont, and will be refunding all ticket sales. pic.twitter.com/L8bbjGbrJt
— R. Christopher Di Mezzo (@rcdimezzo) November 14, 2018
Avenatti has denied the charges.
There has been no call yet for Espy to cut ties to Left of Center.
“We have not had any pushback,” said Massachusetts Democratic Party Vice Chair Deborah Kozikowski, who heads the group with Massachusetts political communicator Mara Dolan. She said that supporters are curious about the charges against Avenatti, but for now “it’s not appropriate to make a stink out of something that may or may not turn out.”
She added, “There’s a curiosity level — people, they’re waiting to see what happens, but the more the story develops the more you have to wonder.”
Their group is raising money to help Espy with canvassing operations and crisis communications.
Espy is facing Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who was asked by Walmart Tuesday to return its donation over comments she made recently about public hangings. Left of Center tweeted on the issue Tuesday.
Yet another reason to support Mike @espyforsenate and the MS Dems! #MSSen #Espy4All https://t.co/DByKbKZEbj https://t.co/9KYcHiIUy9
— LeftofCenter (@LeftofCenters) November 20, 2018
Espy is among the first candidates Left of Center has helped. It has established a fundraising page via the Democrat site Act Blue. “Your $25 contribution will provide a night’s lodging so that volunteers can knock on thousands of targeted doors during the day to get out out the vote and elect a Democrat on runoff day, November 27th,” the site says.
Espy portrays himself as a moderate, but several liberals and liberal groups have donated to him, including Sens. Cory Booker, D-N.J., Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., Kamala Harris, D-Calif., Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
And among his top contributors are billionaire liberal activist George Soros and his son.
