An 81-year-old man with dementia believed Donald Trump and other politicians were personally reaching out to him through messages on his phone. By the time his family discovered what was happening, he had made more than $80,000 in political donations.
Richard Benjamin, from Arizona, was featured in a CNN investigation published in October 2024 examining political fundraising involving elderly Americans experiencing cognitive decline.
Benjamin received dozens of political texts and fundraising messages, some of which his family said he interpreted as genuine personal communications from Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and other political figures.
His family eventually discovered he had made more than $80,000 in donations through WinRed, a fundraising platform used by Republican campaigns. The contributions depleted his savings and left him approximately $50,000 in debt, according to his family.
Richard Benjamin Believed Trump Was Contacting Him
Benjamin received numerous political text messages and fundraising communications, including messages addressing him directly and thanking him for helping political causes. According to his family, he believed some of these were genuine personal communications from politicians.
He told relatives that Trump had invited him to a reception at Mar-a-Lago. He later believed he had received a VIP invitation to a Trump rally in Arizona and began making plans to attend. His family eventually examined his phone and financial records and discovered the scale of his political contributions.
Benjamin's son, Jason, said his father genuinely believed Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and other politicians were personally reaching out to him. CNN reported that some fundraising messages used language suggesting Trump had personally selected the recipient.
More Than $80,000 in Donations
Benjamin made more than $80,000 in political donations through WinRed. While many individual contributions were relatively small, the transactions accumulated quickly. At one point, he made more than 100 donations in a single day.
His son said Benjamin depleted his savings and accumulated approximately $50,000 in debt. His family ultimately sold his house and car before moving him into assisted living. When his son showed him records of the transactions, Benjamin appeared surprised by the number of donations.
The family's account illustrated how quickly repeated small-dollar contributions could accumulate when someone experiencing memory loss did not fully understand or remember previous transactions.
A Wider Pattern Among Elderly Donors
Benjamin's case was part of CNN's broader investigation into political fundraising involving elderly Americans experiencing dementia or other forms of cognitive decline.
CNN said its investigative team reviewed more than 1,000 public reports and complaints. A sample of 52 elderly donors, many experiencing dementia or cognitive decline, had contributed more than $6 million. The majority of that money went to Trump and other Republican candidates.
However, the investigation found cases involving fundraising connected to both major US political parties.
In one case, the family of a woman experiencing cognitive decline said she donated more than $200,000 to Democratic campaigns through ActBlue. CNN reported that it found nearly seven times more complaints involving Republican donors than Democratic donors.
How Repeated Donations Can Add Up
Digital political fundraising appeals are commonly sent through text messages and emails directing recipients to online donation pages. Some fundraising systems also offer recurring contribution options.
CNN documented cases in which elderly donors made dozens of contributions and, in Benjamin's case, more than 100 in a single day.
For people experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline, repeated fundraising messages and transactions can make spending more difficult to track.
Benjamin's family did not initially know how much money he had donated. His son eventually reviewed his father's financial records and phone messages and discovered the extent of the transactions.
According to the family's account, Benjamin became increasingly isolated after his wife died in 2018, with that isolation worsening during the COVID-19 pandemic. His son said the political messages appeared to give his father a sense of attention and connection.
What the Fundraising Organisations Said
WinRed did not respond to CNN's repeated requests for comment at the time of the investigation.
The Trump campaign told CNN that donors were notified before recurring donations were processed and that staff were available to assist with cancellations and refunds.
ActBlue said it had a customer-service team to assist donors and could make exceptions to its standard 90-day refund policy when there were signs a donor was experiencing cognitive decline
