Former Rhode Island GOP candidate Taub arraigned in campaign fraud

PROVIDENCE — Former Republican congressional candidate and fundraiser H. Russell Taub was arraigned in U.S. District Court Friday on charges he scammed GOP donors out of more than $1.6 million through two illegal political action committees.

Wearing a dark pinstriped suit, Taub answered “yes” when Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan asked if he wanted to waive grand jury proceedings and still intended to plead guilty to wire fraud and breaking federal election law. He signed a plea deal with prosecutors earlier this month and is scheduled back in court on March 25.

Neither Taub nor his lawyers, Jeffrey Pine of Providence and Eric Levine of New York City, said much more.

“He’s not making any comment,” Pine said as the attorneys led Taub away from reporters on the courthouse steps.

Read more: https://www.providencejournal.com/news/20190222/former-ri-gop-candidate-taub-arraigned-in-campaign-fraud