Hill Harper Said Pro-Israel Donor Offered Him $20M To Run Against Rep. Rashida Tlaib

Harper Hill said he won't be "bought" after rejecting the offer to mount a primary challenge against Rep. Rashida Tlaib.

Hill Harper, who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, rejected a donor’s $20 million offer to mount a primary challenge against Rep. Rashida Tlaib and ending his Senate bid.

Tlaib, the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, represents Michigan’s 12th Congressional District. Tlaib made history in 2008 by becoming the first Muslim woman to ever serve in the Michigan Legislature.

The actor—now politician—known for his role as Dr. Sheldon Hawkes in CSI: NY issued a statement regarding the offer on social media platform X. He did not identify the donor. Although his campaign spokesperson, Karthik Ganapathy, name-dropped businessman Linden Nelson as the donor who offered the lump sum, according to CNN Politics.

It has been reported that Nelson has ties to the influential pro-Israel lobbying organization American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

The first-time candidate is turning a negative into a positive by using his slogan that he will not be “bossed, bullied, or bought,” to raise campaign funds. The page on ActBlue lists donation amounts between $5 and $500. There is also an option for people to write in any amount that they wish to donate. People wishing to donate must be U.S. citizens at least 18 years of age and cannot be federal contractors. Additionally, the funds must come directly from the person and cannot be from another individual or entity. This means the person making the donation must also use their own credit card and not one from a business or a card issued to someone else.

Harper’s campaign manager spoke to CNN after Hill refused to comment on the matter via a phone call on Nov. 22. Harper referred the news outlet to Ganapathy, who said that Nelson, a businessman in Michigan, contacted Harper on Oct. 16. CNN Politics reported that Nelson’s $20 million offer was broken down to a proposed $10 million in contributions and $10 million in independent expenditures, according to Ganapathy.

Under federal law, Harper, who is also known for his role as Dr. Marcus Andrews in The Good Doctor, is limited to the amount of monetary support he accepts. According to the Federal Election Commission, “the limit on contributions made by certain political party committees to Senate candidates (increased to $57,800 per campaign) (52 U.S.C. § 30116(h)).”