Elliott Broidy: Difference between revisions

 

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====Sex scandal====

====Sex scandal====

On April 13, 2018, ”[[The Wall Street Journal]]” reported that Broidy had a sexual relationship with [[Playboy Playmate|”Playboy” Playmate]] [[Shera Bechard]], resulting in a pregnancy in late 2017.<ref name=WSJ>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-negotiated-1-6-million-settlement-for-top-republican-fundraiser-1523638726|title=Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen Negotiated $1.6 Million Settlement for Top Republican Fundraiser|last1=Palazzolo|first1=Joe|last2=Rothfeld|first2=Michael|date=April 13, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413175435/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-negotiated-1-6-million-settlement-for-top-republican-fundraiser-1523638726|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYT>{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |last2=Rutenberg |first2=Jim |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payout.html |title=R.N.C. Official Who Agreed to Pay ”Playboy” Model $1.6 Million Resigns |date=April 13, 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416015815/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payout.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The model later had an abortion. Donald Trump’s personal lawyer [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]] negotiated for Broidy to pay $1.6&nbsp;million for the woman’s silence. The settlement was falsely characterized at the time as a personal injury settlement.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-settlement/index.html |title=Michael Cohen facilitated $1.6 million agreement on behalf of GOP fundraiser |first1=MJ |last1=Lee |last2=Sara |first2=Sidner |first3=Kara |last3=Scannell |first4=Clare |last4=Foran |work=CNN |access-date=2018-04-13 |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413204522/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WSJdeputyFinanceRNC/> In response to the ”Journal” article, Broidy issued a statement acknowledging that he had had a “consensual relationship with a ”Playboy” Playmate“, that Cohen had contacted him after being approached by the woman‘s attorney, Keith M. Davidson, and that Broidy had then hired Cohen to work out a non-disclosure agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payment-playboy-playmate|title=A Top GOP Official Admitted He Had An Affair With A Playboy Model And Gave Her Money To Terminate Her Pregnancy|last=Nashrulla|first=Tasreem|date=April 13, 2018|work=Buzzfeed|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213601/https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payment-playboy-playmate|url-status=live}}</ref> Broidy resigned his post at the RNC the same day the article appeared.<ref name=”Politico2018″>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/rnc-deputy-finance-chair-broidy-resigns-522867|title=RNC fundraiser resigns after report of $1.6 million Playmate payoff|last=Isenstadt|first=Alex|date=April 13, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413193816/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/rnc-deputy-finance-chair-broidy-resigns-522867|url-status=live}}</ref> A few days later Cohen confirmed in court that Broidy was one of the three clients he had given legal advice to in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-16/cohen-says-he-gave-legal-advice-to-three-clients-in-past-year|title=Cohen Says He Gave Legal Advice to Three Clients in Past Year|last=Voreacos|first=David|date=April 16, 2018|work=Bloomberg News|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-date=2018-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513165311/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-16/cohen-says-he-gave-legal-advice-to-three-clients-in-past-year|url-status=live}}</ref> Some columnists have since speculated that Donald Trump was really the person who had the affair with Bechard, with Broidy agreeing to provide cover for Trump.<ref name=”Campos_5/8/2018″>{{cite web | last=Campos | first=Paul | title=Theory: ”Playboy” Model Who Got $1.6 Million Had Affair With Trump, Not Broidy | website=New York magazine | date=May 8, 2018 | url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/theory-playboy-model-had-affair-with-trump-not-broidy.html | archive-date=August 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809185121/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/theory-playboy-model-had-affair-with-trump-not-broidy.html |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name=”Campos_5/22/2018″>{{cite web | last=Campos | first=Paul | title=Here’s More Evidence Broidy May Have Been Covering for Trump in Playmate Affair | website=New York magazine | date=May 22, 2018 | url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/more-evidence-that-broidy-was-covering-for-trump-in-affair.html | archive-date=July 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713155902/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/more-evidence-that-broidy-was-covering-for-trump-in-affair.html?gtm=bottom | access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name=”Bunch_5/22/2018″>{{cite web | last=Bunch | first=Will | title=Is this ”Playboy” model keeping the biggest secret of the Trump presidency? | website=Philly.com | date=May 22, 2018 | url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/shera-bechard-donald-trump-playboy-model-elliott-broidy-20180522.html | access-date=May 26, 2018 | archive-date=May 25, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525063020/http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/shera-bechard-donald-trump-playboy-model-elliott-broidy-20180522.html | url-status=live }}</ref> Broidy’s lawyer, Chris Clark, stated that Broidy will withhold forthcoming payments to Bechard due to an alleged breach of the non-disclosure agreement on her part.<ref>{{cite news |quote=Now Mr. Broidy, who worked on the RNC with Mr. Cohen, will withhold the third installment of $200,000 that was due Sunday, in response to an alleged breach of the nondisclosure agreement, according to Chris Clark, a lawyer for Mr. Broidy. |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=Top GOP Fundraiser to Stop Hush Payments Over Affair |first1=Michael |last1=Rothfeld |first2=Joe |last2=Palazzolo |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-gop-fundraiser-to-stop-hush-payments-over-affair-1530477047 |date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180701210938/https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-gop-fundraiser-to-stop-hush-payments-over-affair-1530477047 |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |access-date=July 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 6, 2018, Bechard filed a lawsuit against Broidy and the attorney [[Michael Avenatti]], in relation to the cessation of the settlement payments.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-news-playmate-sues-broidy-avenatti-20180706-story.html |title=Ex-”Playboy” model sues Trump donor Elliott Broidy and Michael Avenatti over hush-money pact tied to secret pregnancy |work=NY Daily News |date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010249/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-news-playmate-sues-broidy-avenatti-20180706-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-playmate-files-suit-against-gop-donor-elliott-broidy-over-hush-money-deal-1530904576 |title=Ex-Playmate Files Suit Against GOP Donor Elliott Broidy Over Hush-Money Deal |first1=Michael |last1=Rothfeld |first2=Joe |last2=Palazzolo |date=July 6, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180706200055/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-playmate-files-suit-against-gop-donor-elliott-broidy-over-hush-money-deal-1530904576 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2018_0706_bechard_vs_broidy_plaintffs_memorandum.pdf?mod=article_inline |first1=Peter K. |last1=Stris |first2=Elizabeth R. |last2=Brannen |first3=Dana |last3=Berkowitz |first4=John |last4=Stokes |first5=Shaun P. |last5=Martin |publisher=Stris & Maher LLP via [[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707154348/http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2018_0706_bechard_vs_broidy_plaintffs_memorandum.pdf?mod=article_inline |date=July 6, 2018 |title=PLAINTIFF’S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONDITIONALLY SEAL THE COMPLAINT FOR 45 DAYS}}</ref> Bechard has alleged in a complaint that Broidy was physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive of her, and that he exposed her to [[herpes]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[CTV News]] |author=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ex-playboy-centrefold-says-fundraiser-for-trump-urged-her-to-get-abortion-1.4085158 |title=Ex-”Playboy” centrefold says fundraiser for Trump urged her to get abortion |quote=A former ”Playboy” model’s lawsuit against a top fundraiser for President Donald Trump and other Republicans revealed embarrassing details of their sexual affair and said she feared for her safety after he impregnated her, according to previously censored allegations unsealed Friday. |archive-date=2022-12-12 |access-date=2018-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212052342/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ex-playboy-centrefold-says-fundraiser-for-trump-urged-her-to-get-abortion-1.4085158 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”huffpo”>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/elliott-broidy-republican-national-committee-leader-mistress-complaint_us_5b9326dbe4b0162f472d2ea3 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |title=Ex-Mistress Accuses Longtime RNC Leader Elliott Broidy Of Physical, Sexual Abuse, Complaint Shows |first=Yashar |last=Ali |date=September 7, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405205208/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/elliott-broidy-republican-national-committee-leader-mistress-complaint_n_5b9326dbe4b0162f472d2ea3 |access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref> Broidy has denied the allegations.<ref name=”huffpo”/> On September 7, 2018, California Superior Court Judge Elizabeth White granted Broidy’s request to strike allegations from the case going forward that were not relevant to the breach-of-contract dispute.<ref>Petterssen, Edvard (September 7, 2018). [https://web.archive.org/web/20180908081320/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/elliott-broidy-wins-bid-to-sanitize-ex-playmate-lover-s-lawsuit GOP Fundraiser Elliott Broidy Accused of Coercing Woman Into Having Abortion; Bloomberg]. Archived from the [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/elliott-broidy-wins-bid-to-sanitize-ex-playmate-lover-s-lawsuit original] on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2020</ref>

On April 13, 2018, ”[[The Wall Street Journal]]” reported that Broidy had a sexual relationship with [[Playboy Playmate|”Playboy” Playmate]] [[Shera Bechard]] in a pregnancy in late 2017.<ref name=WSJ>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-negotiated-1-6-million-settlement-for-top-republican-fundraiser-1523638726|title=Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen Negotiated $1.6 Million Settlement for Top Republican Fundraiser|last1=Palazzolo|first1=Joe|last2=Rothfeld|first2=Michael|date=April 13, 2018|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413175435/https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-negotiated-1-6-million-settlement-for-top-republican-fundraiser-1523638726|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NYT>{{cite news |last1=Ruiz |first1=Rebecca R. |last2=Rutenberg |first2=Jim |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payout.html |title=R.N.C. Official Who Agreed to Pay ”Playboy” Model $1.6 Million Resigns |date=April 13, 2018 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-date=April 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416015815/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/13/us/politics/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payout.html |url-status=live }}</ref> later had an abortion. [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]] negotiated for Broidy to pay $1.6million silence. The settlement was at the time as a personal injury .<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-settlement/index.html |title=Michael Cohen facilitated $1.6 million agreement on behalf of GOP fundraiser |first1=MJ |last1=Lee |last2=Sara |first2=Sidner |first3=Kara |last3=Scannell |first4=Clare |last4=Foran |work=CNN |access-date=2018-04-13 |archive-date=2018-04-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413204522/https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/13/politics/trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-settlement/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=WSJdeputyFinanceRNC/>

In response, Broidy a “consensual relationship with a ”Playboy” Playmate, that Cohen contacted him after being approached by ‘s attorney, Keith M. Davidson, and that Cohen to a agreement.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payment-playboy-playmate|title=A Top GOP Official Admitted He Had An Affair With A Playboy Model And Gave Her Money To Terminate Her Pregnancy|last=Nashrulla|first=Tasreem|date=April 13, 2018|work=Buzzfeed|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625213601/https://www.buzzfeed.com/tasneemnashrulla/elliott-broidy-michael-cohen-payment-playboy-playmate|url-status=live}}</ref> Broidy resigned his post the same day the article .<ref name=”Politico2018″>{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/rnc-deputy-finance-chair-broidy-resigns-522867|title=RNC fundraiser resigns after report of $1.6 million Playmate payoff|last=Isenstadt|first=Alex|date=April 13, 2018|work=Politico|access-date=13 April 2018|archive-date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413193816/https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/13/rnc-deputy-finance-chair-broidy-resigns-522867|url-status=live}}</ref> later Cohen confirmed in court that Broidy was one of three clients he had in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-16/cohen-says-he-gave-legal-advice-to-three-clients-in-past-year|title=Cohen Says He Gave Legal Advice to Three Clients in Past Year|last=Voreacos|first=David|date=April 16, 2018|work=Bloomberg News|access-date=23 May 2018|archive-date=2018-05-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180513165311/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-16/cohen-says-he-gave-legal-advice-to-three-clients-in-past-year|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some speculated that Trump the , .<ref name=”Campos_5/8/2018″>{{cite web | last=Campos | first=Paul | title=Theory: ”Playboy” Model Who Got $1.6 Million Had Affair With Trump, Not Broidy | website=New York magazine | date=May 8, 2018 | url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/theory-playboy-model-had-affair-with-trump-not-broidy.html | archive-date=August 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809185121/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/theory-playboy-model-had-affair-with-trump-not-broidy.html |access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name=”Campos_5/22/2018″>{{cite web | last=Campos | first=Paul | title=Here’s More Evidence Broidy May Have Been Covering for Trump in Playmate Affair | website=New York magazine | date=May 22, 2018 | url=http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/more-evidence-that-broidy-was-covering-for-trump-in-affair.html | archive-date=July 13, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713155902/http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/05/more-evidence-that-broidy-was-covering-for-trump-in-affair.html?gtm=bottom | access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref><ref name=”Bunch_5/22/2018″>{{cite web | last=Bunch | first=Will | title=Is this ”Playboy” model keeping the biggest secret of the Trump presidency? | website=Philly.com | date=May 22, 2018 | url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/shera-bechard-donald-trump-playboy-model-elliott-broidy-20180522.html | access-date=May 26, 2018 | archive-date=May 25, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525063020/http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/will_bunch/shera-bechard-donald-trump-playboy-model-elliott-broidy-20180522.html | url-status=live }}</ref> , Chris Clark, Broidy withhold payments to Bechard the agreement.<ref>{{cite news |quote=Now Mr. Broidy, who worked on the RNC with Mr. Cohen, will withhold the third installment of $200,000 that was due Sunday, in response to an alleged breach of the nondisclosure agreement, according to Chris Clark, a lawyer for Mr. Broidy. |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |title=Top GOP Fundraiser to Stop Hush Payments Over Affair |first1=Michael |last1=Rothfeld |first2=Joe |last2=Palazzolo |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-gop-fundraiser-to-stop-hush-payments-over-affair-1530477047 |date=July 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180701210938/https://www.wsj.com/articles/top-gop-fundraiser-to-stop-hush-payments-over-affair-1530477047 |archive-date=July 1, 2018 |access-date=July 2, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On July 6, 2018, Bechard Broidy and the attorney [[Michael Avenatti]], .<ref>{{cite news |last=Dillon |first=Nancy |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-news-playmate-sues-broidy-avenatti-20180706-story.html |title=Ex-”Playboy” model sues Trump donor Elliott Broidy and Michael Avenatti over hush-money pact tied to secret pregnancy |work=NY Daily News |date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707010249/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny-news-playmate-sues-broidy-avenatti-20180706-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-playmate-files-suit-against-gop-donor-elliott-broidy-over-hush-money-deal-1530904576 |title=Ex-Playmate Files Suit Against GOP Donor Elliott Broidy Over Hush-Money Deal |first1=Michael |last1=Rothfeld |first2=Joe |last2=Palazzolo |date=July 6, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180706200055/https://www.wsj.com/articles/ex-playmate-files-suit-against-gop-donor-elliott-broidy-over-hush-money-deal-1530904576 |archive-date=July 6, 2018 |access-date=July 7, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2018_0706_bechard_vs_broidy_plaintffs_memorandum.pdf?mod=article_inline |first1=Peter K. |last1=Stris |first2=Elizabeth R. |last2=Brannen |first3=Dana |last3=Berkowitz |first4=John |last4=Stokes |first5=Shaun P. |last5=Martin |publisher=Stris & Maher LLP via [[The Wall Street Journal]] |archive-date=July 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707154348/http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/2018_0706_bechard_vs_broidy_plaintffs_memorandum.pdf?mod=article_inline |date=July 6, 2018 |title=PLAINTIFF’S MEMORANDUM OF POINTS AND AUTHORITIES IN SUPPORT OF EX PARTE APPLICATION TO CONDITIONALLY SEAL THE COMPLAINT FOR 45 DAYS}}</ref> that was physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive and that he exposed her to [[herpes]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=[[CTV News]] |author=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ex-playboy-centrefold-says-fundraiser-for-trump-urged-her-to-get-abortion-1.4085158 |title=Ex-”Playboy” centrefold says fundraiser for Trump urged her to get abortion |quote=A former ”Playboy” model’s lawsuit against a top fundraiser for President Donald Trump and other Republicans revealed embarrassing details of their sexual affair and said she feared for her safety after he impregnated her, according to previously censored allegations unsealed Friday. |archive-date=2022-12-12 |access-date=2018-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212052342/https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/ex-playboy-centrefold-says-fundraiser-for-trump-urged-her-to-get-abortion-1.4085158 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=”huffpo”>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/elliott-broidy-republican-national-committee-leader-mistress-complaint_us_5b9326dbe4b0162f472d2ea3 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |title=Ex-Mistress Accuses Longtime RNC Leader Elliott Broidy Of Physical, Sexual Abuse, Complaint Shows |first=Yashar |last=Ali |date=September 7, 2018 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405205208/https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/elliott-broidy-republican-national-committee-leader-mistress-complaint_n_5b9326dbe4b0162f472d2ea3 |access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref> Broidy has denied the allegations.<ref name=”huffpo”/> On September 7, 2018, California Superior Court allegations to the breach-of-contract dispute.<ref>Petterssen, Edvard (September 7, 2018). [https://web.archive.org/web/20180908081320/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/elliott-broidy-wins-bid-to-sanitize-ex-playmate-lover-s-lawsuit GOP Fundraiser Elliott Broidy Accused of Coercing Woman Into Having Abortion; Bloomberg]. Archived from the [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-07/elliott-broidy-wins-bid-to-sanitize-ex-playmate-lover-s-lawsuit original] on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2020</ref>

=== Controversies and lawsuits===

=== Controversies and lawsuits===

American venture capitalist and Republican fundraiser

Elliott B. Broidy (born 1956/1957) is an American businessman and former lobbyist.^[2][3] From 2005 to 2008, he served as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and as deputy finance chairman of the RNC from 2017 to 2018.

In 2002, Broidy founded Markstone Capital Partners, a private equity firm investing in Israeli companies, with the New York State Common Pension Fund as the lead investor, contributing $250 million. In 2009, he pleaded guilty to charges related to providing illegal gratuities to former New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi; the charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor after his cooperation led to the conviction of Hevesi and other officials. As part of the plea agreement, Broidy paid $18 million in restitution, resigned from Markstone, and admitted providing illegal gifts to pension officials in exchange for investments from the fund.^[4]

From 2017 to April 2018, Broidy served as deputy finance chairman of the RNC. He resigned after The Wall Street Journal reported that he had entered into a non-disclosure agreement with former Playboy Playmate Shera Bechard, paying $1.6 million for her silence about a sexual affair. He also resigned from the board of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

In October 2020, Broidy pleaded guilty to acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Chinese and Malaysian interests. He sought to lobby senior U.S. Government officials to deport a Chinese dissident living in the United States and attempted to arrange meetings between a Chinese minister and the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other officials, while concealing the foreign principals he represented.^[5][6] He was charged as part of a federal investigation into efforts to influence the Trump administration to halt investigations into the 1MDB Malaysian state fund fraud.^[7] On January 19, 2021, he was pardoned by President Donald Trump.^[8]

Broidy was raised in Westwood, Los Angeles, in a Jewish family.^[9] His father, Sherman G. Broidy, was an educator and property developer, and his mother, Dorothy Horowitz, was a nurse.^[10][11]

Broidy says he put himself through the University of Southern California (USC) working as a commercial salmon fisherman and that he saved $10,000 to buy an East Los Angeles laundromat, which he visited almost every day.^[11] He graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance.^[12][13] He was a Certified Public Accountant from 1982 to 1993.^[13][14]

Broidy began his career in finance at Arthur Andersen in the tax department. One of his clients, Glen Bell, founder of Taco Bell, later hired him to manage his personal investments.^[11] He served as managing director of Bell Enterprises from 1982 to 1991.^[11][13] In 1991, he founded Broidy Capital Management, an investment firm, where he served as its chairman and chief executive officer.^[12][13][15]

In the early 2000s, Broidy established Markstone Capital Partners to invest in Israeli companies. He met with Benjamin Netanyahu, then Israel’s finance minister.^[11] He raised $800 million for Markstone, primarily with close cooperation of elected managers of public pension funds in California, New York, and other states, as well as the city of Los Angeles, where he served on the board of trustees for the Los Angeles Fire and Police Pension Fund.^[11][16] Markstone closed in 2014 following the death of co-founder Amir Kess, financial mismanagement, and controversial investments, which led to investor losses and a decline in confidence.^[17] Later, Broidy served as chairman of ESI Holdings, an event management firm.^[12] He was also a commissioner and chairman of the Alternative Investment Committee of the Los Angeles City Fire and Police Pension Fund from 2002 to 2009.^[12][13][16]

After the September 11 attacks, he became active in politics. He joined the Republican Jewish Coalition^[18] and later served on its board of directors, resigning after repeated scandals. Between 2002 and 2004, he became a “Super Ranger”, donating more than $300,000 to George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign.^[19] From 2004 to 2006, he raised campaign funds for Republican candidates. In October 2006, he hosted a fundraiser for Bush that raised $1 million.^[20] Later that year, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appointed him to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, as well as the Terrorism Task Force and New Technology Task Force.^[12][15][16]

From 2005 to 2008, Broidy served as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) including during the 2008 presidential campaign of John McCain and Sarah Palin. During the 2016 election cycle, he was a top fundraiser for Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, and Donald Trump.^[11][21] From April 2017 to April 2018, he served as deputy finance chairman of the RNC.^[22] According to Bruce Bialosky of the Republican Jewish Coalition, “A lot of people talked a big game, but when he said he could raise big money, he actually did.”^[11]

Broidy was also the executive producer of two independent films, Sugar and Snake and Mongoose (both 2013).^[23]

In 2014, Broidy purchased the Virginia-based private security company Circinus LLC, which provided services to the United States and other governments. The company said it held hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts with the United Arab Emirates.^[24] After meeting with Jared Kushner and later President Donald Trump at the White House in October 2017, Broidy discussed Circinus with the president and later said Trump was “extremely enthusiastic” about the firm’s prospects for a UAE security contract.^[11] In 2018, Broidy planned to travel with George Nader to meet the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, to pitch a $650 million contract with Circinus, but the plan collapsed when the FBI detained Nader upon his arrival at Dulles Airport.^[25]

In October 2017, during a private meeting with Trump, Broidy praised a paramilitary Circinus was developing for the UAE. He urged the president to meet with UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, to support the UAE’s hawkish policies in the Middle East, and to dismiss United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. He also criticized Qatar, a U.S. in conflict with the UAE.^[24][26][27] In March 2018, it was reported that Broidy had allegedly received $2.6 million from Nader to lobby the White House on behalf of the UAE and Saudi Arabia and against Qatar.^[9] That same month, The New York Times reported that Nader had worked for more than a year to use Broidy to influence White House policy in favor of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, including efforts to remove Tillerson, take a harder line on Iran and Qatar, and arrange private meetings between the president and the UAE leader.^[25]

The anti-Qatar effort ultimately failed, including proposals to move a U.S. military base from Qatar to the UAE. In late April, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for an end to the dispute among Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar during a trip to the Gulf.^[28] Nader later pleaded guilty to child exploitation charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a repeat offender.^[29]

In 2002, Broidy founded Markstone Capital Partners, a private equity firm which invested in companies in Israel. The lead investor was the New York State Common Pension Fund.^[12][13][30] The pension fund invested $250 million with Markstone.^[31] After falling under investigation by then New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo, in 2009, Broidy entered a guilty plea to a single felony count of attempting to provide excess gratuity to former New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi.^[11] The charge was later reduced to a misdemeanor^{[11][16][32][33]} in exchange for cooperation that helped lead to the conviction of Hevesi and six other pension officials.^[11][31][34] Broidy had provided $1 million in illegal gifts to New York State pension authorities. The gifts included luxury trips to Israel, payouts, and an undisclosed investment in a film produced by the brother of the chief investment officer of the New York State Retirement Fund. In exchange for the gifts, the state pension fund had invested $250 million with Markstone Capital Partners.^[31][35] As part of the plea deal, Broidy paid $18 million in restitution of management fees paid by the pension fund to Markstone and resigned from the chairmanship of Markstone.^[16]

In 2016, Broidy served as a vice chairman of the Trump Victory Committee, a joint fundraising committee for the Trump campaign and the RNC.^[36] He was also a vice chairman of the Presidential Inaugural Committee.^[37] In April 2017, he was named one of three national deputy finance chairmen of the RNC, alongside Michael Cohen and Louis DeJoy.^[38][39]

After Trump’s election, Broidy used his access to the president to recruit international clients for his security firm, Circinus, offering to arrange meetings with Trump and other senior officials. He secured more than $200 million in defense contracts from the United Arab Emirates. Some clients had controversial backgrounds.^[40] He offered inauguration tickets to Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso. He arranged meetings between Angolan politician João Lourenço and Republican senators and offered him a trip to Mar-A-Lago.^[40] Romanian politician Liviu Dragnea, later jailed for corruption, attended an inauguration event and met the president.^[40][41] Broidy also sought to expand Circinus’s work in Tunisia and Cyprus, including proposals to create a “misattributed environment” to route surveillance activity through the United States to obscure a foreign government’s involvement.^[40][41]

In April 2017, Broidy was appointed deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC).^[22]

In March 2018, Broidy sued Qatar, alleging that its government hacked and leaked his emails to discredit him because he opposed its interests in Washington.^[42] In May 2018, he amended the lawsuit to name Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Ahmed Al-Rumaihi, as participants in the alleged campaign.^[43][44] He also sued UN diplomat Jamal Benomar, accusing him of acting as a Qatari agent. In Broidy Capital Management LLC v. Jamal Benomar, the court held that Benomar had diplomatic immunity under the the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and dismissed the case, finding insufficient evidence to waive that immunity.^[45][46]

Beginning in March 2018, Broidy became involved in a criminal investigation by the Prosecutor General of Ukraine related to a June 12, 2014 agreement to provide political support for VTB Bank and Investment Capital Ukraine, a financial adviser to President Petro Poroshenko.^[47][48] Under the agreement, Broidy was to receive five payments of $2.5 million through Quillas Equities SA, a British Virgin Islands firm with a Dubai address. Quillas Equities was linked in the Panama Papers to Yuri Soloviev, a senior VTB executive.^[47][49] In early 2014, VTB was placed under international sanctions following Russia’s actions in Ukraine.^[47][50]

On April 13, 2018, Broidy resigned as deputy finance chairman of Republican National Committee (RNC) amid allegations concerning his relationship with Shera Bechard.^[22][27][51] To prevent disclosure of the relationship, $1.6 million in payments were arranged beginning in 2017 by Michael Cohen. The structure of the payments was reported to be similar to Cohen’s payment to Stormy Daniels and involved accounts that had received funds from companies linked to Viktor Vekselberg‘s Renova Group.^{[27][51][52][53][54]}

On April 13, 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that Broidy had a sexual relationship with Playboy Playmate Shera Bechard that resulted in a pregnancy in late 2017.^[55][56] She later had an abortion. Michael Cohen, then President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, negotiated an agreement for Broidy to pay $1.6 million in exchange for her silence. The settlement was publicly described at the time as a personal injury matter.^[57][22]

In response, Broidy acknowledged a “consensual relationship with a Playboy Playmate,” stating that Cohen contacted him after being approached by Bechard’s attorney, Keith M. Davidson, and that he retained Cohen to negotiate a nondisclosure agreement.^[58] Broidy resigned from his RNC post the same day the article was published.^[59] Days later, Cohen confirmed in court that Broidy was one of three clients he had advised in the previous year.^[60]

Some commentators speculated that Trump, not Broidy, had the affair and that Broidy acted as a cover, an allegation denied by Broidy and his representatives.^[61][62][63] Broidy’s attorney, Chris Clark, said Broidy would withhold further payments to Bechard, alleging she breached the nondisclosure agreement.^[64]

On July 6, 2018, Bechard sued Broidy and the attorney Michael Avenatti, after payments stopped.^[65][66][67] In her complaint, she alleged that he was physically, sexually, and emotionally abusive and that he exposed her to herpes.^[68][69] Broidy has denied the allegations.^[69] On September 7, 2018, a California Superior Court judge struck allegations deemed unrelated to the breach-of-contract dispute.^[70]

Broidy’s controversial unregistered lobbying and public corruption scandals have been rife with criminal investigations, criminal charges, civil lawsuits, and media scrutiny.^[71][72][73]

A July 2018 report revealed that Broidy had paid Rick Gates, Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, at least $125,000 for “advice and business insight.” Gates had been indicted in October 2017 as a result of the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The payments began in March 2017 and went on until at least July.^[74]

In 2019, Broidy filed lawsuits accusing a former CIA officer, Kevin Chalker, and three lobbyists of aiding Qatar in hacking and distributing his communications to damage his reputation.^[75] Broidy alleged that Chalker’s firm, Global Risk Advisors, carried out the hack for Qatar, but Chalker, whose company was contracted for 2022 FIFA World Cup security, denied involvement. A separate lawsuit targeted lobbyists Nick Muzin, Joey Allaham, and Gregory Howard, claiming they disseminated the hacked information to undermine Broidy’s political influence. All denied involvement.^[75]

In June 2020, a 112-page legal filing was submitted by Broidy in a federal court in New York, in which he accused Qatar of paying tens of millions of dollars to Global Risk Advisors (GRA), including its chief executive Kevin Chalker, for years to hack, surveil, and silence American citizens who criticized Qatar.^[76]

The Global Risk Advisors sent email messages, purporting to be from Google’s security team, which got Broidy’s wife and his executive assistant to provide passwords for their personal gmail accounts.^[77]

In 2023, Broidy withdrew claims against Allaham, who admitted knowledge of the hack but denied participation. By April 2024, Broidy dropped both lawsuits without providing a clear reason.^[75]

Broidy sought to leverage his connections for another case, Guo Wengui’s extradition.^[78]

In August 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported that Broidy was hired by Sun Lijun, the former deputy head of China’s Ministry of Public Security, to lobby the Trump administration to extradite Guo Wengui, a fugitive billionaire.^[79] Guo has become an ally of former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon.^[80]

According to Bloomberg, the group convened with Chinese Vice Minister Sun Lijun but failed to secure meetings with U.S. officials.^[78] Consequently, Broidy approached casino tycoon Steve Wynn for assistance due to his close ties with President Trump.^[78]

According to Broidy’s testimony, during a boat trip, Wynn contacted Trump via speakerphone to inquire about Guo’s extradition status.^[78] Broidy testified that he heard Trump affirming the ongoing process.^[78] In a separate case, Wynn successfully convinced a U.S. judge to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to have him registered as a foreign agent representing China.^[78]

In March 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that Broidy had been in negotiations to earn tens of millions of dollars by lobbying the U.S. Justice Department to drop its investigation into a multibillion-dollar graft, the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal involving a Malaysian state investment fund, 1MDB, according to emails reviewed by the Journal. One email showed a proposal that would have given Broidy and his wife $75 million if they got the Justice Department to drop its probe into 1MDB. Broidy also prepared talking points for Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to use with President Trump during his 2017 visit to Washington, D.C. This included playing up Malaysia’s relationship with the U.S. in fighting North Korea, and arguing against pursuing legal action against 1MDB.^[81][82] Najib would eventually be convicted of corruption by a Malaysian court. The Department of Justice is investigating whether the Trump Victory Committee took a $100,000 donation from Malaysian businessman and international fugitive Jho Low, who is accused of being the mastermind of the 1MDB fraud.^[83][84]

In November 2018, The New York Times reported that Federal prosecutors accused Broidy of involvement in a scheme to launder millions of dollars into the United States to help Jho Low end a Justice Department investigation into the embezzlement of billions of dollars from 1MDB.^[85]

On October 8, 2020, federal prosecutors announced that they were charging Broidy with conspiring to act as a foreign agent as he lobbied the Trump administration on behalf of Malaysian and Chinese government interests, a felony.^[86] On October 20, 2020 Broidy pleaded guilty to these charges.^[87] As part of his plea deal, Broidy agreed to forfeit $6.6 million to the federal government.^[87] The felony to which Broidy pleaded guilty carries a prison sentence of up to five years.^[87]
On January 19, 2021 Broidy was granted a full pardon by President Donald J. Trump.

On June 11, 2021, the U. S. Department of Justice charged associates of Mr. Broidy.^[88] “Low Taek Jho, 39, also known as Jho Low, and Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, 48, are alleged to have conspired with Elliott Broidy” related to their “… engaging in undisclosed lobbying campaigns at the direction of Low and the Vice Minister of Public Security for the People’s Republic of China“.^[88]

Broidy provided a testimony to federal jurors in April 2023, detailing his collaboration with Grammy-winning artist Pras Michel to obtain payments from Malaysian businessman Jho Low, aiming to persuade the Trump administration to halt the 1MDB investigation.^[78] He described the 2017 formation of a team, led by Michel, seeking to convince the US Justice Department to abandon its civil inquiry into Low’s alleged involvement in embezzling funds from the Malaysian development fund 1MDB.^[78]

As a key government witness, Broidy confirmed the group’s intent to lobby on Low’s behalf, who compensated Broidy with $8 million and promised up to $75 million more if successful.^[78] He allocated a portion to Hawaii businesswoman, Nickie Lum Davis, who also admitted guilt in the conspiracy.^[78] He identified Davis as the intermediary connecting him, Michel, and Low, stating they met in Bangkok to discuss the 1MDB case and potential remuneration.^[78]

Broidy disclosed his unsuccessful attempt to arrange a golf game between President Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, leading to pressure from Davis.^[78] Ultimately, the covert lobbying efforts were unsuccessful, resulting in Low’s 2018 indictment for money laundering related to the 1MDB scandal.^[78] Low remains a fugitive, believed to be in China.^[78]

In 2006, Bush appointed Broidy to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.^[15][16][89]

Broidy served on the board of governors and the endowment committee of Hebrew Union College and the board of trustees of the Hillel Foundation, as well as the Center for Investment Studies at the Marshall School of Business at his alma mater, the University of Southern California.^[12] He served on the board of governors of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center.^[13][15] He was the 2008 recipient of the Raoul Wallenberg Award by the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States for his Jewish philanthropy.^[32]

After multiple scandals and criminal charges, Broidy was forced to resign from boards and political and philanthropic appointments, becoming persona non grata in social, business, and political circles.^[22][59]

Broidy is married to Robin Rosenzweig, a former senior executive at 20th Century Fox.^[15][90] They have three children.^[15]

After residing in Holmby Hills, the couple moved to Bel Air in 2005. In 2001, they rented their Bel Air house to Angelina Jolie but, later, they demolished the house and built a new one.^[11][91][92] According to the Los Angeles Times, Broidy sold his mansion in 2012 and moved to a smaller rental property in Beverly Hills after pleading guilty to a felony in a New York State Common Pension Fund corruption case.^[11]

In April 2018, Shera Bechard publicly revealed her affair with Broidy, alleging that he coerced her into having an abortion and abused her during their relationship.^[55][56]