Renacci campaigns accused of improper contribution
Congressman’s lawyer argues funds transfer is legal
The 2018 Ohio gubernatorial campaign for Congressman Jim Renacci has been accused of improperly handling a campaign contribution. File photo by TERRY BRLAS
COLUMBUS – Legality is being questioned in a transfer of funds from Congressman Jim Renacci’s federal campaign committee into his campaign for governor, according to a Aug. 2 report from The Columbus Dispatch.
The media outlet said it discovered Renacci “improperly contributed the maximum $12,707 to his 2018 campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination,” which, according to state election laws, violates the prohibition of transferring large amounts of funds from a federal officeholder’s campaign committee account into a campaign account for a state or local election.
A lawyer for the Renacci campaign told The Dispatch the donation is legal because it was made through a state-registered political action committee (PAC) created by Renacci’s federal campaign, which state law does allow.
The contribution was reported by Renacci’s gubernatorial campaign to the office of Secretary of State Jon Husted June 30, the final day of that reporting period, as well as reported in Renacci’s federal campaign finance report from July.
A formal complaint would need to be filed with the Ohio Elections Commission for investigation and a ruling made in order for action to be taken against a candidate in response to allegations of campaign wrongdoing.
Renacci’s gubernatorial campaign did not respond to request for comment from The Post, which serves several communities and their constituents in Renacci’s 16th Congressional district, including his hometown of Wadsworth.
In 2015, Renacci’s federal campaign was fined $5,425 by the Federal Election Commission for failing to promptly report several donations received the previous year.
In 2014, Renacci’s federal campaign paid a $9,749 fine for a similar reporting violation.
Renacci made headlines earlier this summer after loaning $4 million of his own money into his gubernatorial campaign. Also gunning for the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Husted, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
Renacci is currently serving his third term in Congress. He was a businessman in the private sector prior to being elected mayor of Wadsworth for one term and then Congress in 2010.
The media outlet said it discovered Renacci “improperly contributed the maximum $12,707 to his 2018 campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination,” which, according to state election laws, violates the prohibition of transferring large amounts of funds from a federal officeholder’s campaign committee account into a campaign account for a state or local election.
A lawyer for the Renacci campaign told The Dispatch the donation is legal because it was made through a state-registered political action committee (PAC) created by Renacci’s federal campaign, which state law does allow.
The contribution was reported by Renacci’s gubernatorial campaign to the office of Secretary of State Jon Husted June 30, the final day of that reporting period, as well as reported in Renacci’s federal campaign finance report from July.
A formal complaint would need to be filed with the Ohio Elections Commission for investigation and a ruling made in order for action to be taken against a candidate in response to allegations of campaign wrongdoing.
Renacci’s gubernatorial campaign did not respond to request for comment from The Post, which serves several communities and their constituents in Renacci’s 16th Congressional district, including his hometown of Wadsworth.
In 2015, Renacci’s federal campaign was fined $5,425 by the Federal Election Commission for failing to promptly report several donations received the previous year.
In 2014, Renacci’s federal campaign paid a $9,749 fine for a similar reporting violation.
Renacci made headlines earlier this summer after loaning $4 million of his own money into his gubernatorial campaign. Also gunning for the Republican gubernatorial nomination are Husted, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor.
Renacci is currently serving his third term in Congress. He was a businessman in the private sector prior to being elected mayor of Wadsworth for one term and then Congress in 2010.