The prominent progressive fundraising group working with Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson’s bid for Senate will cut ties with the congressman’s campaign in light of domestic violence accusations levied against him by his ex-wife.
{mosads}A source familiar with the group’s strategy told The Hill that Revolution Messaging, which played a significant role in Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ successful online fundraising, reached out to Grayson’s campaign Tuesday to say it would be terminating its relationship.
The decision strikes a blow to the Congressman’s fundraising efforts — he’s one of the most successful small-dollar fundraisers in Congress and raises significant sums through online efforts. Grayson paid more money, $464,000, to Revolution Messaging than to any other vendor, according to campaign finance data compiled by Open Secrets, a reporting arm of the non-partisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Grayson’s ex-wife, Lolita, shared documents with Politico that alleged she had accused Grayson of abuse on several occasions and that she told police in 2005 that the congressman threatened to kill her.
Grayson adamantly denied those accusations in a statement to Politico through his lawyer, which framed her as a “disturbed woman” making a “false allegation.”
The accusations have prompted other significant progressive groups, Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, to withdraw endorsements of Grayson. Grayson is facing an Aug. 30 primary contest against fellow Democratic Rep. Patrick Murphy.