GOP operatives accused of funneling Russian cash to Trump

The details: The indictment, unsealed on Monday, outlines allegations of a convoluted money trail from the unnamed Russian national through a consulting firm run by Benton and to a Trump joint fundraising committee.

• The Russian national was determined to underwrite a Trump fundraising event in order to get a photo with the former president, according to communications between Benton and Wead cited in the indictment.
• The indictment alleges that Benton received $100,000 from the Russian national and passed on $25,000 to the joint fundraising committee, allegedly pocketing the remaining $75,000.
• Wead and Benton each face six criminal charges, including conspiracy and abetting illegal foreign political contributions.

For the record: Efforts to reach Wead were not immediately successful. Benton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

• Benton was previously convicted of filing false statements in connection with a scheme to funnel money from Ron Paul's 2012 presidential campaign to an influential Iowa politician who backed Paul in the state's presidential caucus.
• Trump pardoned Benton in December, shortly before leaving office.