Who is Robert Kraft? Columbia donor and ‘sex trafficker’

Robert Kraft, the owner of the Super Bowl-winning New England Patriots, recently made headlines by announcing that he had cut off financial support to Columbia University.

His decision came after hundreds of university students began a protest against Israel's war on besieged Gaza.

A large group of demonstrators, including students and faculty from diverse backgrounds, has set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on the lawns of the prestigious New York institution. These peaceful protests were held in solidarity with Palestinians.

As the death toll of civilians killed by the Israeli military climbed to tens of thousands, the students stood their ground, increasing pressure on the university administration to cut ties with Israeli institutions.

Kraft, the billionaire funder, saw these peaceful protests as “anti-Semitic” even though students are only protesting against the Israeli aggression and not the Jewish people in any way.

Zionist connections

Born on June 5, 1941, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Kraft is a prominent Jewish figure in both business and sports.

He is best known as the chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with interests spanning several industries, including the New England Patriots, a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area.

Raised in an orthodox Jewish family, his father served as a lay leader at the Congregation Kehillath Israel in Brookline.

Kraft grew up to become a major patron of the Zionist lobby American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) with a one million dollar donation.

With an estimated wealth of around $6.6 billion, Kraft's influence extends beyond business, as he actively engages in philanthropy and advocacy.

He also founded the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism in 2022, personally putting in $20 million in the organisation, which uses social media to achieve its goals.

Expanding influence by donations

Kraft is committed to supporting Israel, which is facing international scrutiny for its war in which more than 33,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed.

Some of his contributions included a $11.5 million donation for the construction of the Columbia/Hillel building, $6 million spent for the development of a football field in Israel, and $10 million handed out for the renovation of the Center for Jewish Progress headquarters in Boston.

Additionally, he personally contributed $1 million and helped raise an estimated $4 million through a charity soccer match in the name of fighting anti-Semitism.

Furthermore, Kraft pledged $20 million to establish a foundation dedicated to fighting antisemitism and combating the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which exposes Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.

In April 2024, Kraft halted funding to Columbia University after students-led protests started.

Sex trafficking allegations

Robert Kraft has also faced several criminal charges. In 2019, he was charged in Florida with soliciting prostitution after he was captured on video engaging in sex acts with a worker at a massage parlour.

Kraft's actions were captured on video as part of a larger investigation into human trafficking and prostitution at several massage parlours in the area. Despite denying the allegations, Kraft was among those charged in connection with the investigation.

However, beyond the surface of a mere prostitution case, some voices in the public sphere raised concerns that the incident may be linked to sex slavery.

The gravity of the situation surrounding the human trafficking ring in Florida became increasingly apparent as Martin County Sheriff revealed distressing details.

The women involved were subjected to harrowing conditions, with no respite, as they were given no days off. Their lives were marked by a staggering cycle of exploitation, with each woman forced to service an average of about 1,500 men a year.

Amidst such exploitation, the basic right to hygiene was neglected, with authorities describing their conditions as "minimal" at best.

Questions arose regarding why a billionaire like Kraft would seek services from a regular masseuse in town, prompting deeper scrutiny into the circumstances surrounding the case.

In September 2020, Florida prosecutors dropped the prostitution charges against Kraft.