The re-election campaign of US President Joe Biden and a Democratic Party committee have decided to freeze donations from Gaurav Srivastava, an Indian-American businessman, following allegations that he falsely claimed to be associated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Srivastava's $50,000 donation to the Biden Victory Fund last April has been put in escrow, while nearly $290,000 donated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee last year has been set aside as a precautionary measure.
The decision to freeze the funds comes after media reports raised doubts about Srivastava's business practices and philanthropy, including claims of false CIA ties.
Srivastava, based in Los Angeles, has been active in charitable causes, but doubts have been raised about his integrity, leading to the termination of his ties with the Atlantic Council, a think tank dealing with international affairs.
Reports have questioned Srivastava's employment details, including his claim to work for Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Operations, and Management (AECOM), which the firm has denied. He later listed himself as the chairman of Unity Resource Group, a security operations company.
Srivastava's connections with President Biden extend beyond donations, as his company briefly employed a lobbying firm led by a former Biden aide. Srivastava reportedly met Biden personally last year.
Several Democratic politicians who received donations from Srivastava, including Senators Mark Warner and Robert Menendez, have redirected the funds to charities amid the controversy. Additionally, campaigns such as Representative Mikie Sherrill's have redirected funds to local charities.
The freezing of donations reflects concerns about the source and legality of Srivastava's contributions, highlighting the scrutiny surrounding political fundraising and donor integrity.
