Magaziner Calls on Fung to Give Donation to Feds - He’s Giving it to Kids with Disabilities

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Tuesday, February 22, 2022

GoLocalProv News Team

Allan Fung, candidate for CD2 tells GoLocal he is donating Taub's monies to Special Olympics PHOTO: GoLocal

The race for the second congressional district saw its first head-to-head campaign issue on Monday between Democrat Seth Magaziner and Republican Allan Fung.

The controversy bubbled up related to donations from a former Rhode Island GOP candidate for Congress who was jailed.

In 2019, Russel Taub was sentenced to serve three years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for fraud and campaign finance violations. Taub was also ordered to pay $1,102,439 in restitution to the victims of his crimes.

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Taub recently was released from prison.

During the period of his campaign fraud, Taub was a prolific donor to Republican candidates in Rhode Island and across the country.

On Monday, Magaziner criticized Fung and another Republican Robert Lancia for accepting donations from Taub.

Seth Magaziner wanted Fung to give money to the Feds PHOTO: GoLocal

“When Allan Fung and Bob Lancia became aware that Russell Taub stole over $1 million from his contributors and used it for personal gain, they should have immediately turned that money over to federal authorities so that it could be used for restitution for Taub’s victims," said Magaziner. “Now the scandal has worsened, as Robert Mueller revealed Taub sought assistance from Russia to undermine our democracy. Fung and Lancia should immediately turn over these donations to the appropriate federal authorities.”

Public finance filings indicate Fung accepted a maximum donation of $1,000 in 2018 during his bid for Rhode Island Governor and another donation in 2014.

Fung when reached by GoLocal said, “We will be donating the money to Rhode Island Special Olympics so that it helps local children succeed.”

On Sunday, GoLocal reported that the RI pension fund, chaired by Magaziner, has investments in controversial hedge-funds with ownership interests in "the troubled teen industry."

Those companies identified are under both state and/or federal investigations.