A Michigan businessman allegedly offered $20 million to a Democratic candidate for the Michigan Senate on the condition that he withdraw his current candidacy and instead run against Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.). Ru. Candidate Hill Harper reportedly declined the offer.
Harper campaign spokesman Karthik Ganapathy said businessman and political donor Linden Nelsen approached him with the proposal last month, The New York Times reported.
Ganapathy said the conversation between Harper and Nelson was “respectful for both parties.”
Mr. Harper and Mr. Traib could not be reached for comment. But in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Wednesday, Harper wrote, “I will not be bought, bossed or bullied.”
Bar group asks Michigan State Bar Association to investigate and sanction Treib over anti-Israel comments
Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib speaks during a demonstration calling for a ceasefire in Gaza near the U.S. Capitol on October 18, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Amanda Andrade Rose, File)
“For me, this is not about one person or one phone call. It’s about a broken political finance system and campaign finance system that favors the rich and powerful. I’m running for the U.S. Senate. “Because I believe that the rich and powerful do the same thing.” “I represent a lot in Washington. I’m running to be the voice of the people. I’m not being bribed. “I’m not going to be bossed around or bullied,” he said.
Politico first reported on the alleged offer and briefly contacted Nelson on Wednesday, but the call quickly ended and Nelson did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Mr. Harper, an actor and entrepreneur, faces an uphill battle to succeed Michigan Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow. But he has positioned himself as a progressive alternative and joined other Democrats in calling for a ceasefire earlier this month. Mr. Tlaib also called for a ceasefire.
“The answers to ensuring long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians are neither easy nor painless, but one truth remains firm: Violence against defenseless children, trapped and frightened, It’s abhorrent, regardless of who is behind it,” Harper said. reportedly In a statement.
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Saturday, September 30, 2023, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Anna Rose Leyden/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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Tlaib, a progressive “Squad” member, came under fire this month for his comments about the Israeli-Palestinian war.
After the terrorist organization attacked and killed hundreds of innocent Israeli civilians last month, its members are glorifying Hamas’ war with Israel, Fox News Digital exclusively learned last week.
The group is hidden from non-members and does not appear in the platform’s search engines, but Fox News Digital was able to access it.
The group’s founder, Maher Abdel-Kader, has extensive ties to Tlaib, as well as other liberal politicians, and has made anti-Semitic statements, including questioning whether the Holocaust happened in the past. He has been criticized for his social media posts.
FOX News’ Houston Keene contributed to this report.
