FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, August 20, 2020
CONTACT: Liz Doherty
Dan Forest’s Biggest Donor Gets Over 7 Years in Prison
CHARLOTTE — On Wednesday, Dan Forest’s biggest donor Greg Lindberg was sentenced to over seven years in prison for his role in one of North Carolina’s biggest political bribery scandals. Lindberg has contributed $2.4 million to committees which back Forest’s run.
These days, Forest has largely made the news for his dangerous spread of misinformation (i.e., “masks do not work with viruses”) and irresponsible in-person events that put people in harm’s way. But let’s not forget that his single biggest donor attempted to bribe a government official, NC Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. As of yesterday, Lindberg will spend the next 7+ years behind bars.
Here’s a rundown of the Forest-Lindberg connection:
- Lindberg sentenced to more than 7 years for trying to bribe an elected official, in one of North Carolina’s biggest political bribery scandals.
On Wednesday, Lindberg was sentenced to seven years in prison and a $35,000 fine for trying to bribe Causey.
Forest received over $2.4 million from Greg Lindberg at the same time he was trying to bribe Causey:
- Lindberg gave $1 million to Forest’s Truth and Prosperity PAC.
- He also gave $1.4 million to another PAC that supports Forest.
- Plus, Lindberg associates shelled out nearly $50,000 to Forest’s campaign committee.
WRAL: “Fundraising 101: Breaking down the millions in NC politics”
- During the trial, text messages between Forest’s chief of staff and Lindberg’s team were used as evidence.
During the trial, “dozens of texts, emails [were] added to evidence.” Some of those text messages were between Forest’s chief of staff, Hal Weatherman, and Lindberg associate John Gray. There were also text messages with Forest’s finance director. - Forest got defensive when asked about his ties to Lindberg.
When Forest was asked about his ties to Lindberg, Forest complained, “I don’t know how many times I need to say that for people to not ask me that question anymore.” He also characterized his ties to Lindberg as just “another fake news story out there.”
WATCH: Spectrum News: “Dan Forest’s Final Argument for Republican Governor Primary,” February 28, 2020
- Forest’s former chief of staff and current campaign manager, Hal Weatherman, tried to set up a meeting with Commissioner Mike Causey, Greg Lindberg and his associate.
A WRAL report revealed Forest’s former chief of staff and current campaign manager, Weatherman, used his private email account in August 2017 to set up a meeting between Lindberg, Gray and Causey.
Within a month from when Weatherman sent that email, Lindberg donated $400,000 into the Forest-chaired Republican Council of State Committee and “more than $50,000 flowed into Forest’s campaign coffers from associates of Lindberg and Gray, at least in part because Lindberg hosted a fundraiser at his home.” By the end of 2017 Lindberg contributed $2.4 million to committees which fund Forest’s gubernatorial run.
WRAL: “Forest aide sought meeting between insurance chief, financier later indicted”
- Forest described Lindberg, other indicted men as “friends” of his & “good guys.”
Forest told reporters he is friends with the men involved in the corruption scandal. Forest claimed that Lindberg is a good guy and a friend, “First of all, there’s a few guys in there that are friends of mine. These are good guys. I like these guys.”
WATCH: WRAL: “Forest Discusses Indicted Donor,” April 2, 2019
- Lindberg was listed as a host of Forest’s 50th birthday party in Raleigh.
Despite desperate attempts from Forest’s campaign to distance themselves from Greg Lindberg and false claims that he had never given directly to their campaign, Forest’s campaign eventually revealed to the News & Observer that it failed to report an in-kind donation from Lindberg.
- Lindberg threw a fundraiser at his home for Forest.
As reported by the News & Observer, on the same day Forest posted the below Facebook photo, Lindberg made a donation of $400,000 to the Council of State committee.
- Plus, Lindberg associates shelled out nearly $50,000 to Forest’s campaign committee.
In addition to the millions Forest has received from Lindberg himself, Forest’s campaign has also received over $60,000 in individual contributions from Lindberg’s employees and associates.
READ MORE:
- AP: “N.C. political donor gets 7 years in prison, Hayes probation,” August 20, 2020.
- News and Observer: “Lindberg gets more than 7 years for trying to bribe elected official; says he’ll appeal,” By Michael Gordon and Ames Alexander, August 19, 2020.
- Wall Street Journal: “Insurance Executive Greg Lindberg Sentenced to Seven Years and Three Months in Prison,” By Mark Maremont and Leslie Scism, August 19, 2020.
- WRAL: “Durham businessman going to prison for bribery; former congressman gets probation for lying to FBI,” By Travis Fain, August 19, 2020.
- Triangle Business Journal: “Billionaire Lindberg sentenced to more than 7 years for political bribery scheme,” By Lauren Ohnesorge, August 19, 2020.
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