(VIDEO) US Senator Chris Van Hollen Issues Warning About Baofo Campaign. Media Investigates Baofo's Work for Oracle - A Major ICE and Data Center Contractor

Over $5 million Invested to Boost An Unknown Candidate in Baofo

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen is calling on voters to think twice about electing Oracle lobbyist Adrian Baofo.

“I want to alert voters in Maryland’s 5th congressional district about the flood of outside special interest super PAC money that is coming into that district in support of one candidate, Adrian Boafo...voters need to understand that these groups are not investing in this race out of charity,” he said. “They are spending because they believe the beneficiary of their spending, in this case, one candidate, Adrian Boafo, will be a dependable vote in support of their special interests. That is my warning. And my warning is ‘voters beware.’”

Van Hollen's warning about Baofo is unprecedented in its bluntness and urgency. Baofo is a relative unknown who briefly served on the Bowie City Council and as a first-term Delegate in the Maryland General Assembly. Over 20 candidates, including January 6 hero cop Harry Dunn, are vying for the 5th congressional district seat which includes Russett, Fieldstone, Maryland City, Watershed, and Bacontown.

The congressional 5th race is eerily similar to the race for Maryland's 3rd congressional district race two years ago featuring another unknown candidate in Sarah Elfreth. Approximately $5M was also spent by "dark money" interest to select Elfreth. Van Hollen's warning about Baofo highlighted Baofo's connection to crypto-currency interests and the United Democracy Project/AIPAC which is aligned with controversial Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is under investigation in several countries for war crimes.

Two recent investigations into Baofo also flagged concerns about Baofo's work with data center and blockchain company Oracle. Oracle also has significant government contracts with I.C.E. A News 4 I-Team investigation conducted an investigation into Baofo and discovered that Baofo is actually a federal lobbyist for Oracle. Oracle is investing heavily into blockchain technology which requires significant data center capacity to operate. The NBC4 Washington investigation suggested that Baofo has not been entirely transparent about his connection to data center and blockchain special interests.

A separate investigation by WAMU found that Baofo amended his ethics disclosure with the Maryland General Assembly, just before he filed to run for Congress, to reveal that he had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock options for his work on behalf of Oracle.

Van Hollen's warning about the campaign is seen as a particular rebuke to retiring Congressman Steny Hoyer who has rallied support for Baofo. Baofo once served as Hoyer's campaign manager. Hoyer never once held any meetings in the greater Russett area and is unknown to many of its voters.

Russett Reader has endorsed January 6 hero Harry Dunn in the congressional 5th district race to succeed Hoyer.