A pro-Ben Carson super political action committee is fundraising off of the retired neurosurgeon’s “growing influence” in Donald Trump’s campaign.
The 2016 Committee, the super PAC spawned from the movement to draft Carson, sent out an email claiming Carson may become chief of staff under President Trump and that Carson has helped House Speaker Paul Ryan to board the Trump train, among other things.
Trump has not said how he might use Carson if elected, and Ryan has not endorsed Trump.
“Because of his great faith in Dr. Carson, Donald Trump gave Ben Carson the responsibility of vetting and recommending a choice for his vice presidential running mate,” wrote John Philip Sousa IV, 2016 Committee chairman, in the email. “Dr. Carson did that so well that the Donald then asked Ben to set up the all-important meeting with Speaker Paul Ryan. Although Ryan has not yet officially endorsed Trump, it’s coming.”
Sousa continued to argue that Trump has big plans for Carson, whom Sousa described as Trump’s “chief surrogate.”
“The growing trust that Donald Trump has in Dr. Carson could very well mean that Ben Carson will end up as President Trump’s chief of staff, the most powerful position in the White House after the president himself,” Sousa wrote. “All this angst about Donald Trump, and all the chest beating about how we must run a third party candidate is deadly foolishness. Be angry. Be mad. But, please don’t be stupid.”
The 2016 Committee may have had the blessing of Carson’s most ardent supporters at one point, but it appears that the doctor may want them to quit cold turkey. In March, the pro-Carson super PAC distributed emails seeking cash for a vice presidential bid by Carson. Carson spoke out against the effort as inappropriate.
The 2016 Committee has also faced scrutiny for its potential violations of campaign finance law, including distributing fundraising solicitations for the Carson campaign. The pro-Carson super PAC has also appeared to erroneously claim to have raised more money than it actually did.
Now, the pro-Carson super PAC wants to raise $3.6 million, purportedly for advertising “to saturate black radio stations in the eight key swing states.” Sousa’s email insisted, “virtually every dollar” donated would go toward the radio effort to reach African Americans, but the email also notes that it has unpaid debt remaining.
“You and I hold the key to victory. You might say that we hold the Trump card,” Sousa wrote. “Every dollar counts.”
