A New Jersey man pleaded guilty Wednesday to intentionally disguising funds he received from a foreign source during the 2012 presidential election, according to a Justice Department report.
Bilal Shehu of Paramus, N.J., admitted that in September 2012, he received and funneled $80,000 into President Obama’s authorized joint fundraising committee in an effort to disguise a foreign national’s campaign contributions.
The foreign source hoped that the contributions would help him gain access to a campaign event. Even with the contribution though, the foreign national was denied access.
He was only able to get a picture with the president.
Shehu was charged with “knowingly and willfully making foreign contributions and donations in connection with the 2012 presidential election and to a fundraising and political campaign committee of the president.”
Federal law makes it clear that foreign nationals are not allowed to give funds to federal candidates or fundraising committees.
Shehu awaits his sentencing in October, and no one on the joint fundraising committee was accused of any misdeed.
