Kanye West’s political aspirations may yet be alive but his treasurer Patrick Krason showed himself the door as allegations of a “potentially serious criminal transaction” could interfere with another White House bid for the already controversial figure.
Krason, a political consultant, joined the campaign as treasurer in December 2022 only to abandon ship Monday in a series of leaked letters that included allegations against political commentator and campaign advisor Milo Yiannopoulos. Despite West having yet to announce a formal campaign for 2024, Yiannopoulos had recently returned to West’s team, seemingly prompting Krason’s departure which, according to a letter obtained by Politico, included serious allegations against the advisor.
Sent directly to the entertainer, the letter alleged that in November 2022, just prior to Yiannopoulos stepping away from Team West, the advisor had “submitted falsified invoices and for expenditures that would be deemed unlawful,” which Krason suggested was a “potentially serious criminal transaction.”
He also indicated that there was too much “personal animosity” to work professionally with Yiannopoulos and preempted termination with his resignation, which he cemented with a formal letter to the Federal Election Commission.
“My name is Patrick Krason and I have resigned as Treasurer of Kanye 2020 campaign committee…I have notified the campaign of my resignation and they have been made aware of the requirement to name a new treasurer within 10 days,” Krason wrote. “I have also made them aware that they cannot raise or spend campaign funds until a new treasurer has been named. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.”
Reacting to the allegations, Yiannopoulos told Politico that he was not going to “give any credence” to “easily disproven claims” and further suggested that it was nothing more than a “venomous” attempt by Krason to lash out.
However, the claims were not totally unfounded as, upon Yinnaopoulos’ return to the campaign, the re-minted campaign strategist oversaw the prompt termination of commentator Nick Fuentes and advisor Ali Alexander, the former having notably caused a stir in November with an uninvited appearance for a meeting between West and former President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
According to TMZ, Yiannopoulos had informed Fuentes, “Your services on Ye’s exploratory team are terminated… and will not be required for any possible future campaign.”
Additionally, Krason had noted the advisor’s effort to gain reimbursement for an expense related to an unspecified digital asset from Kanye 2020 and Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R) reelection campaign, for which he had also worked.
Kanye 2020 had reportedly paid Yiannopoulos $40,000 in December for “campaign wrap up services” and roughly $10,000 in November for a “domain transfer,” before his temporary departure from the campaign.
Politico noted that West, who had earned less than 68,000 votes nationwide in 2020, could not be reached directly for comment.
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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