WASHINGTON — A major contributor to President Barack Obama’s re-election effort is accused of defrauding a businessman and impersonating a bank official.
Donor Abake Assongba gave more than $50,000 to Obama this election season. But her past legal troubles, which include unpaid debts, are creating a new headache for Obama’s campaign.
The allegations were first reported Sunday by The Washington Post. Its report says Assongba tried to rip off more than $650,000 from a Swiss businessman and use the funds to build a multimillion-dollar house in Florida.
A campaign spokesman declined comment to The Associated Press but told The Washington Post it reviews issues involving questionable donors. Obama’s campaign returned $200,000 last month to two men whose brother was a Mexican fugitive wanted by federal authorities.