MAGA Candidate: I’m Keeping Donation From Rioter

The Huffington Post reports:

Joe Kent, a right-wing Republican who is vying for a rematch against Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), received $8,600 in campaign donations from an accused Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol rioter facing felony and misdemeanor charges. The Department of Justice announced earlier this month that it was charging Salisbury, Maryland, resident Carlos Ayala with civil disorder, a felony, as well as several misdemeanors.

Ayala’s arrest prompted him to resign from his post as a Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections. The Kent campaign does not plan to return the money to Ayala. “Joe Kent believes in due process,” campaign spokesperson Erin Van Natta said. “Mr. Ayala is innocent until proven guilty.” Kent believes that the 2020 election was “rigged and stolen” and has suggested that the FBI was involved in orchestrating the Capitol riot.

Read the full article. Kent lost his 2022 bid against Perez by 1.2 points. He first appeared here when he gave an interview to a neo-Nazi podcaster.

Joe Kent enjoys enthusiastic support from white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, and members of the January 6th mob — including $8600 from one rioter indicted by the DOJ earlier this month.

Weird, dangerous extremists know Joe Kent is one of their own.https://t.co/dSubn0Oai8

— Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (@MGPforCongress) January 26, 2024