Democrat candidate offered $20m to challenge Rashida Tlaib: Politico

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Politico
23 Nov 2023 16:17
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It is reported that a Michigan businessman with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Linden Nelson, was possibly the donor who challenged Harper.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., speaks during a rally at the National Mall during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Washington, Oct. 20, 2023. (AP)

Hollywood actor and Democratic Senate candidate Hill Harper, has been offered $20 million in campaign contributions on one condition: to drop out of the Senate race and face a primary challenge against Rep. Rashida Tlaib, according to a source familiar with the offer, as reported by Politico.

The context lies here: Over 20 Democrats joined Republicans to censure Tlaib this month after she spoke out with pro-Palestine remarks. Democrats are looking for a candidate to run against her in the primaries.

Congressman Rich McCormick criticized Tlaib for "promoting false narratives" regarding the events of October 7 and for "calling for the destruction of the state of Israel". Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene accused Tlaib of "antisemitic activity, sympathizing with terrorist organizations, and leading an insurrection at the US Capitol Complex".

Tlaib called the resolution to censure her "deeply Islamophobic", adding: "I will continue to work for a just and lasting peace that upholds the human rights and dignity of all people, and ensures that no person, no child has to suffer or live in fear of violence."

For me, this isn’t about one person or one phone call. It’s about a broken political and campaign finance system that’s tilted towards the wealthy and powerful.

I’m running for the U.S. Senate because I believe the wealthy and powerful have too much representation in…
— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023

Tlaib’s fellow critics of "Israel", Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), are also facing Democratic challengers who are being outspokenly pro-"Israel".

I didn’t intend for a private phone call to turn public. But now that it has, here’s the truth.

One of AIPAC’s biggest donors offered $20m if I dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run against @RashidaTlaib.

I said no. I won’t be bossed, bullied, or bought. https://t.co/Ji76jwPE3X
— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023

In a statement calling for the ceasefire earlier this month, Harper said: “The answers to ensure long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians are neither simple nor pain-free, but one truth stands firm: violence against defenseless children, trapped and frightened, is abhorrent, regardless of who is behind it”.

AIPAC ties

Linden Nelson, the Michigan businessman with ties to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), previously donated to a group aiming to unseat Tlaib and has donated to other Michigan Democratic candidates over the years, including Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) and Andy Levin in according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, as well as former Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.).

I am the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, and my perspective is needed here now more than ever. I will not be silenced and I will not let anyone distort my words.

I’m from Detroit, where I learned to speak truth to power, even if my voice shakes. pic.twitter.com/bXhGPCcKat
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) November 7, 2023

AIPAC spokesperson Marshall Wittmann denied this, claiming that it “was absolutely not involved in any way in this matter. Also, our records indicate that this individual has not contributed to AIPAC in over a decade.”

Saurav Ghosh, the director for federal reform at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, stated that any coordination between a candidate and a donor with that large amount of financing would be illegal.

Ghosh added: “It would be illegal for a wealthy donor and a person planning to run for office to essentially coordinate and line up $20 million in financing to support that person’s candidacy; this would raise serious corruption concerns about the candidate being wholly within that one donor’s pocket”.

Harper, however, has confirmed Politico's account and said he was indeed offered the amount in question.

I didn’t intend for a private phone call to turn public. But now that it has, here’s the truth.

One of AIPAC’s biggest donors offered $20m if I dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run against @RashidaTlaib.

I said no. I won’t be bossed, bullied, or bought. https://t.co/Ji76jwPE3X
— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023