Report: Billionaire accused in Florida prostitution sting donates $12k to boost Mike Rogers’ Senate campaign

It’s the latest example of Rogers’ bid for US Senate being bankrolled by controversial figures—including a Texas oil mogul who pushes Christian nationalism and a national anti-abortion group that’s pouring millions into Michigan.

MICHIGAN—On the campaign trail, Republican US Senate candidate Mike Rogers likes to bill himself as a “law and order candidate.” But one of his newest backers was once charged in a Florida prostitution case that was tied to an international sex trafficking ring.

A review of Federal Election Commission records by The ‘Gander found that Team Rogers, the Republican candidate’s joint fundraising committee, accepted a $12,000 contribution on Aug. 7 from John W. Childs—a billionaire GOP megadonor and former private equity executive who was charged in 2019 with soliciting prostitution during a multi-state investigation into human trafficking that centered around Florida massage parlors.

That same Florida sting also ensnared New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former Citigroup president John Havens, after police uncovered a trafficking network operating through a chain of day spas and massage parlors. Authorities said the women involved in the operation were lured into the United States with false promises of legitimate work and then forced into sexual servitude, living on-site and providing services to as many as 15 men per day.

Childs, who denied the allegations, stepped down from the Boston-based firm he founded, J.W. Childs Associates, as the scandal made national headlines. At the time, other Republican politicians—like then-US Sens. Martha McSally and Mike Braun—quickly returned his donations as a result.

While the charges were later dropped and Childs’ record was expunged, the donation stands out given Rogers’ emphasis on “locking up the bad guys” and “law and order” messaging. 

Rogers’ campaign didn’t immediately respond to questions about the contribution.

A Texas oil billionaire with a far-right agenda

Childs’ contribution isn’t the only eyebrow-raising source of support for Rogers’ campaign. A separate review of federal filings shows that nearly all the cash backing his Senate run so far can be traced to a single Texas oil executive with a long record of funding far-right causes.

That donor—Tim Dunn—has funneled $5 million into a super PAC supporting Rogers, according to campaign finance records. And Dunn’s money accounts for roughly 98% of the PAC’s total fundraising this year, effectively making him the group’s primary source of funding.

@gandernewsroom

He thinks only Christians should lead. And now he’s bankrolling a US Senate candidate in Michigan. Political correspondent Kyle Kaminski breaks down who’s really pulling the strings:

♬ original sound – The Gander – The Gander

In Texas, Dunn has reportedly helped bankroll efforts to ban abortion without exceptions, defund public schools in favor of private Christian academies, and oust moderate Republican politicians in favor of hardline candidates who align with his far-right, Christian nationalist worldview.

Now, Dunn appears to be trying to import that same political playbook into Michigan, ultimately using his wealth to shape the outcome of one of the nation’s most competitive US Senate races.

A national anti-abortion group pours millions into Michigan

Rogers’ campaign is also getting major outside help—albeit indirectly—from Susan B. Anthony (SBA) Pro-Life America, a national anti-abortion organization that recently announced a $4.5 million campaign to boost Rogers’ chances of getting elected to the US Senate next year in Michigan.

The group said the effort aims to reach 1 million Michigan voters ahead of the 2026 election through ads, phone banking, and other voter outreach. It’s one of the largest independent expenditures in the race so far—and one with clear policy expectations attached.

@gandernewsroom

An anti-abortion group is dumping $4.5 million into Michigan for Mike Rogers. And yes, there appear to be strings attached. 👀

♬ original sound – The Gander

SBA Pro-Life America has long required its endorsed candidates to support new federal abortion restrictions, even in states like Michigan, where voters have already enshrined reproductive rights in the state Constitution through the passage of Proposal 3 in 2022. 

And Rogers has a record that fits the bill. 

During his time in Congress, he co-sponsored federal abortion bans and backed “personhood” legislation that could have restricted access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and some forms of birth control. He also called the US Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision a “travesty.”

The bottom line

Taken together, these political contributions paint a picture of a US Senate campaign being powered largely by out-of-state money and ideological megadonors with agendas far removed from most Michigan voters. They also showcase how national political interests are flooding Michigan with cash ahead of one of the most competitive Senate races in the country. 

As next year’s general election approaches, Michiganders will need to decide whether that influence aligns with the values and priorities they want representing them in Washington.

READ MORE: Did Mike Rogers forget that Betsy DeVos is one of his biggest donors?

Don’t miss Michigan’s biggest stories—follow The ‘Gander on Instagram.