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LaRose Still Refusing to Disclose Financial Information

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose is now fourteen days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure – making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him. 

As Ohioans wait for LaRose to provide answers about self-funding $250,000 to his campaign despite mocking his opponents by claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in the race, here is a reminder of all the times LaRose has *already* proved he doesn’t think the rules apply to him: 

• NOVEMBER 2023: LaRose moved his official office – for the first time in nearly two decades – to the same building as his campaign HQ, costing taxpayers $600,000. LaRose campaigned from the same building as his taxpayer-funded state offices – potentially violating Ohio Ethics code – and refused to provide answers on the move and his unethical behavior for weeks despite calls from media outlets, public records requests from Ohio taxpayers, and questions from Ohio lawmakers.

• AUGUST 2023: Despite his previous efforts to eliminate August elections because of low voter turnout and high costs, LaRose changed his mind and spearheaded the $18 million August special election – making a series of costly mistakes during the process, including sending counties the incorrect ballot language and election date.

• JULY 2023: After LaRose launched his Senate campaign, a Republican activist filed a federal elections complaint against LaRose for “illegally [running] a de-facto campaign for the U.S. Senate for months.”

• JULY 2023: LaRose’s close ties to August’s Issue 1 also led to a second ethics complaint for violating federal law.

• APRIL 2023: Earlier this year, the Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC.

What Ohioans are reading recently about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”

• Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”

• Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]

• Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]

• Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.

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Columbus, OH – On day one in his new office, Ohioans are being reminded that Frank LaRose is wasting $600,000 in taxpayer funds to move his official office to the same building as his campaign HQ. Since initial reports on LaRose’s costly move published weeks ago, LaRose has been called out for “blur[ring] ethical lines,” raising “ethics red flags,” and “misusing taxpayer money.” Despite calls from media outlets, Ohio taxpayers, and lawmakers, LaRose has refused to answer questions about the costly move.

A refresher on *one* of LaRose’s many costly scandals:

• LaRose has been called out for months for moving his official Secretary of State office – which has been in the same building for nearly two decades – to the same building where his campaign is headquartered.

• The move will cost Ohioans $600,000 and will take taxpayers 54 years to recoup the costs associated.

• LaRose has refused to provide answers on the move and his unethical behavior despite calls from media outlets, public records requests from Ohio taxpayers, and questions from Ohio lawmakers.

• The Ohio Capital Journal showed that Frank LaRose “recorded a campaign interview that appeared to take place in the building where he is moving his taxpayer-funded state offices” potentially violating Ohio Ethics code by soliciting a campaign contribution from a taxpayer-funded building.

Here’s what Ohioans are saying about Frank LaRose “blur[ring] ethical lines:”

• Thomas Yeager, Air Force Veteran: “I was held to the highest ethical standards as a senior noncommissioned officer in the USAF. We should receive no less from our elected officials. LaRose needs to be held accountable for this string of unethical moves.”

• Delaney Marsco, senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center: “That’s where my ethics red flags would go up… There’s a real concern about co-mingling the official business that he’s supposed to be doing on behalf of all people of Ohio and then the work that he’s doing as a candidate for Senate.”

• Mia Lewis of Common Cause Ohio: “You have to keep the campaign and the government work separate. Once those things start to blur, it becomes harder and harder for voters to trust their elected officials… [LaRose] seems to spend an incredible amount of his time putting his thumb on the scale of one issue or another…How are Ohioans supposed to trust you when you have so much trouble putting the voters first?”

• Armando Telles Marine Corps veteran: “I think Mr. LaRose is not being forthright about the intentions of the move, the timing of the move, let alone the exposures of the integrity of his office coincidentally being in the same building of his U.S. Senate (campaign) office.”

See also: NEW: Frank LaRose Caught Campaigning At Taxpayer Funded Office Amid Growing Scandal; Frank LaRose’s “Latest Political Controversy” Escalates, Ohioans Agree LaRose Misusing Taxpayer Funds; Frank LaRose Continues Dodging Questions From Ohioans, Media, and Lawmakers on Latest Scandal; Ohio Lawmakers Call On Frank LaRose To Answer for Latest Scandal Costing Ohioans; ICYMI: “Ethics Red Flags” Go Up as Frank LaRose’s “Ability to Do that Job Impartially Has Been Called into Question” [Ohio Capital Journal]; LaRose’s Math Not Adding Up as Taxpayers Cover Steep Cost to Move Secretary of State Office to His Campaign HQ; As Scandal Grows, LaRose’s “Answers” Just Raise More Questions About Steep Cost to Move Secretary of State Office to His Campaign HQ; A New Scandal For Frank LaRose: Taxpayers Foot Steep Bill to Move Secretary of State Office to Campaign HQ

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LaRose Owes Ohioans Answers After Refusing to Disclose Financial Information, Dodging Questions About Self-Funding $250,000 and Claiming To Be A “Thousandaire” 

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers after going thirteen days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure, making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him.

Questions Frank LaRose must answer after refusing the follow the rules, self-funding $250,000, and withholding required financial disclosures:

• In July, you said “I’m the only one in the race that isn’t a millionaire…So I’m going to do this the old-fashioned way, the entrepreneurial way,” but you then self-funded $250,000 – what changed?

• You’ve mocked your opponents by calling them “rich guys [trying to] buy a [Senate] seat” and claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in this race, but you’ve dodged questions about self-funding your campaign $250,000 and blew past the November 14th deadline to disclose your own finances – why won’t you be transparent with Ohioans after you’ve attacked your opponents for their wealth?

• You oversee campaign finance compliance in Ohio, yet you are refusing to follow federal ethics rules and are thirteen days past the deadline to file your financial disclosure with the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee – why do you think the rules don’t apply to you?

What Ohioans are reading about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”

• Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”

• Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]

• Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]

• Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.

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Columbus, OH – Today, the Ohio Democratic Party announced the full slate of candidates for the 2024 Supreme Court race. Justices Melody Stewart and Michael Donnelly are running for re-election while Eighth District Court of Appeals Judge Lisa Forbes from Cleveland will run for election to the state’s highest court.   

   
Watch the official launch video HERE. 

“We couldn’t be more proud and excited to re-elect Justices Stewart and Donnelly and to elect Judge Forbes to Ohio’s Supreme Court. For far too long, Ohioans have had to endure a Court that puts politics over people and too often sides with corrupt legislators over working Ohioans. We’re fighting next year for justice, fairness and equality under the law for ALL Ohioans, not just the wealthy and well-connected, and we welcome all Ohioans to join us in that fight,” said Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

Ohioans can visit ohiodems.org/buildthebench to learn more. 

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LaRose Refuses to Meet Ethics Deadline, Dodges Questions About Self-Funding $250,000 After Claiming To Be A “Thousandaire” 

Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose has officially gone seven days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure, leaving Ohioans in the dark and making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him. LaRose’s deceit surrounding his personal finances follows him dodging questions for weeks about self-funding $250,000 to his campaign while mocking his primary opponents by claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in the #OHSEN Slugfest.

“Every passing day, Frank LaRose makes it clearer he doesn’t believe the rules apply to him,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster.

What you need to know about Frank LaRose intentionally hiding his finances from Ohioans:

• First, Frank LaRose claimed “I’m the only one in the race that isn’t a millionaire. So I’m going to do this the old fashioned way.”

• Then, LaRose self-funded $250,000 to his campaign and “didn’t respond to…numerous inquiries” about the source of his loan.

• And now, after filing for an extension in August, Frank LaRose has violated the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure for seven days.

What Ohioans are reading about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him: 

• Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]

• Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]

• Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.

• Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”

• Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”

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