INDIANAPOLIS — A U.S. senator from Indiana is donating money he received from a billionaire charged with sex crimes to a local domestic violence support center.
Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana received $5,400 from John W. Childs in June 2018, as part of his campaign for Senate. He will donate the money to the Julian Center, an Indianapolis-based organization that supports the victims of domestic and sexual violence through emergency shelter, trauma counseling, housing assistance and art therapy.
“Senator Braun is in the process of returning this donation to the Julian Center in Indianapolis, which empowers survivors of domestic and sexual violence,” spokesman Jahan Wilcox said.
The Julian Center helps more than 6,000 Hoosier survivors per year, the organization says. About 18 percent of the Julian Center’s funding comes from donations.
Childs, 77, was charged last month with soliciting prostitution in connection with a Florida spa tied to an international human trafficking ring. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was also charged in the same incident.
Childs resigned from the equity firm he founded days after the charge. A press release from the firm stated Childs was not active in managing the firm when he retired.
He actually donated $10,800 at the time, a Braun representative said.
The maximum allowable donation by an individual is $5,400, meaning a couple could donate $10,800. But the $10,800 was only listed under Childs’ name, not both people. The other $5,400 was returned to Childs in September, according to federal campaign finance records.
Childs routinely donates thousands to Republican politicians and organizations.
