Meet the Bernie Bro Embezzler Behind the Progressive Push to Primary Sinema
26th October 2021
A former Bernie Sanders adviser indicted for embezzling money from a labor union is now leading the progressive push to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D., Ariz.).
Chuck Rocha, the founder of Nuestro PAC, launched the “Run Ruben Run” campaign to encourage Rep. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) to primary Sinema in 2024. Rocha’s criminal past surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign after he joined the Sanders campaign. The longtime labor activist was sentenced to 24 months probation and fined $2,000 after he was convicted of embezzling funds from the United Steelworkers International Union, where he served as political director. Rocha admitted to misusing a union credit card in 2008 and 2009 to pay for golf outings and Stanley Cup tickets.
Nuestro PAC is one of several groups working to unseat Sinema because of her opposition to President Joe Biden’s massive $3.5 trillion “Build Back Better” initiative. Way to Win, a group funded by liberal donor George Soros, formed the Primary Sinema PAC, though it has not endorsed a specific candidate. The primary efforts highlight growing disunity within the Democratic Party over the Biden spending plan.