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Markey To Give Kraft's Campaign Donations To Group Combating Human Trafficking
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey says he will donate campaign contributions he received from New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to an organization that works to end human trafficking.
Kraft was among hundreds of men charged in a crackdown on massage parlor prostitution and an investigation into human trafficking at Florida spas. He pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution.
Markey received $3,600 in donations from Kraft during the Massachusetts Democrat's first Senate campaign in 2013.
In a statement, Markey called the allegations against Kraft "very alarming," and said sexual exploitation was "reprehensible" in any form.
"I'm confident that the authorities are going to conduct a full investigation, but I feel that it's appropriate for me to return those campaign contributions," Markey told WBUR.
Kraft did not comment.
The Patriots owner is a lifelong Democrat but has donated to Republican candidates and is friends with President Trump.
With reporting by the WBUR Newsroom
This article was originally published on March 19, 2019.