CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Republican Party has canceled an event where controversial conservative filmmaker, author and felon Dinesh D’Souza was slated to speak days before his sentencing on a federal crime.
“On the eve of such an exciting election year in West Virginia, we want to ensure that our dinner is an event for all conservatives to celebrate,” party chairman Conrad Lucas said Wednesday afternoon.
D’Souza is the creator of the popular documentary “2016: Obama’s America,” the more recent film “America: Imagine the World Without Her” and is a New York Times best-selling author.
He also pleaded guilty in May to charges related to a campaign finance violation involving “straw donors.” He gave $20,000 to others so they could donate that money to a Republican’s political campaign in 2012, according to court filings and many media reports.
He faces up to 16 months in prison.
D’Souza’s sentencing in New York federal court is scheduled for Sept. 23, four days after he was going to be the keynote speaker at the West Virginia GOP’s $75-per-ticket “Victory Dinner” event.
Lucas said he was unfamiliar with D’Souza’s “timeline on his situation” but confirmed the party booked him within the last month..