Jesse Benton, Former Ron Paul Campaign Manager, Resigns From Mitch McConnell Re-Election Bid Days After Revelations Paul Campaign Bribed Iowa State Senator for Support

The
revelation
earlier this week by Republican Iowa State Sen. Kent Sorenson
in federal court that he took bribes from both the Michele Bachmann
and Ron Paul campaigns during the 2012 election season in exchange
for his support in the all-important Iowa caucus was bound to have
some fall-out. As a federal probe into Sorenson and the bribes
continue, Jesse Benton, who managed Paul’s campaign in 2008 and
2012 (and Rand Paul’s in 2010) has resigned as campaign manager for
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The Washington Post reports:

In a statement issued Friday evening, Benton cited “inaccurate
press accounts and unsubstantiated media rumors about me and my
role in past campaigns that are politically motivated, unfair and,
most importantly, untrue.”

“The press accounts and rumors are particularly hurtful because
they are false,” Benton wrote. “However, what is most troubling to
me is that they risk unfairly undermining and becoming a
distraction to this reelection campaign.”

Benton
previously weathered controversy over comments caught on tape
that suggested he wasn’t committed to McConnell’s politics.

Reason.com has reached out to Benton for a statement.

Related: Brian Doherty asks
Are Ron Paul’s Fundraisers a Shadowy Threat to Rand Paul’s
Political Future?