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It’s been a busy week in Ohio politics with the sentencing of Larry Householder and Matt Borges in the largest corruption case in state history – but don’t miss the Ohio Senate connection and everything else that happened this week in what’s already been called one of the “messiest, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country. 
 

NEW REPORT SHOWS FRANK LAROSE’S SUPER PAC IS BEING RUN BY FORMER HOUSEHOLDER OPERATIVE

New details about LaRose’s shady dealings come after Ohioans have slammed him for his shadow campaign which is being dogged by ethical and legal concerns. As more details come out, it’s becoming more and more clear that LaRose will do and say anything to gain power.
 
REMINDER: #OHSEN REPUBLICANS SUPPORT ABORTION BANS
 
It’s been one year since the Dobbs decision and every Republican running for Ohio’s Senate seat holds out-of-step positions on abortion, including supporting abortion bans that make no exceptions for rape or incest. Here’s what you need to know: 
 
At his campaign launch, Bernie Moreno said he is “unequivocally pro-life.” He does not support exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother.
 
Frank LaRose celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade and has supported an abortion ban with no exceptions for rape or incest.
 
Matt Dolan celebrated the overturning of Roe v. Wade, calling it “exciting.”
 
 FRANK LAWHOOPS FEELS THE HEAT 

Frank LaWhoops is running from accountability after being called out by outlets across Ohio for “screwing up big-time” and potentially costing Ohio taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by sending the wrong ballot language to county elections officials for the August special election days before the deadline to mail absentee ballots to military members and overseas voters. 
 
We’re STILL waiting for LaWhoops to answer: How much exactly is this blunder costing Ohio taxpayers?
 
INCOMING: Q2 NUMBERS DROPPING
 
It’s the end of the quarter which means Matt Dolan and Bernie Moreno will be dropping fundraising numbers soon. Will Dolan write himself another check to try to buy a Senate seat? Only time will tell.

PAY TO THE ORDER OF: Matt Dolan
SIGNED: Matt Dolan
 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: 

House Minority Leader Allison Russo: “Let me make one thing clear — every single candidate running for Ohio’s seat supports an abortion ban, including bans that make no exceptions for rape or incest. There’s no doubt in my mind that if elected, any one of these Republican candidates would support a total abortion ban without exceptions in Ohio and across the nation.”

Columbus, OH — Today, Matt Borges – former chief of staff to GOP Supreme Court Justice* Joe Deters – was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in the largest public bribery scandal in Ohio history. Today’s sentencing follows Borges’ pay-to-play scandal when he worked as Deters’ chief of staff, raising serious questions about the people Justice* Deters surrounds himself with. 

Deters has also faced criticism for his politically-motivated appointment to the Ohio Supreme Court with Cleveland.com calling his appointment a “mistaken choice” and pointing to “many conflicts and questions about Deters’ qualifications and past service.” 

“Between employing federal criminals to the political back-scratching that led to his appointment to the Supreme Court, it’s clear that Joe Deters is unfit to serve on the state’s highest court. Joe Deters is only serving on the Supreme Court because of his political connections – connections that are sketchy at best and criminal at worst. Ohioans deserve a Supreme Court Justice that upholds the rule of law, not one whose friends and close advisors are constantly breaking it,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 

As he prepares to face voters for the first time as Supreme Court Justice,* Deters must answer for his former Chief of Staff’s actions as well as his politically-motivated appointment to the Ohio Supreme Court. 

* Is Joe Deters a Supreme Court Justice or simply another political appointee for Governor Mike DeWine?

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Columbus, OH — Earlier this week, Congressman Bob Latta released a statement celebrating a major investment in broadband internet for Ohioans. The problem? Latta voted against The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which made the funding possible. 

It’s the latest example of Ohio Republicans taking credit for the work of Ohio Democrats to move our economy forward and help working families get ahead. 

“Thanks to the work of Ohio Democrats, more Ohioans in Bob Latta’s district will be able to use their faster internet connection to Google his record of voting against their interests. It’s shameful that Latta is trying to take credit for legislation he voted against, but Republican politicians in Ohio have shown time and again they’re incapable of shame,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party. 
 

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Columbus, OH — Today, Ohio Democratic Party (ODP) Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement after disgraced Republican Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history. 

“Today was a step in the right direction for justice and the rule of law. For years, Republican politicians in Columbus have used their positions of power in the statehouse to enrich themselves and their wealthy, well-connected friends, and today’s sentence once again reminds us that no one is above the law. However, we know that Householder did not act alone, and we continue to call for accountability for every GOP politician connected to this scandal,” said ODP Chair Elizabeth Walters. 

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As ethics concerns surround LaRose’s shadow campaign, report shows close ties between LaRose and the largest corruption scandal in state history

On the same day Larry Householder will be sentenced in federal court, a new report is exposing Frank LaRose’s close ties to the largest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history – including new information that LaRose’s super PAC is being led by a former Householder operative. 

Ohioans have slammed LaRose for his sketchy shadow campaign which continues to be dogged by ethics concerns. The Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC this year.

“Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers about his close ties to the largest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “As more details come out about the shady dealings surrounding his shadow campaign for Ohio’s Senate seat, it’s becoming increasingly clear that LaRose is just another unethical, corrupt politician who will do and say anything to gain power.”

Read More:

​​Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose won’t discuss Householder connections 
Marty Schladen
June 29, 2023

• LaRose’s name came up repeatedly earlier this year during Householder’s seven-week federal felony racketeering trial. In addition, a consultant working with a LaRose-aligned super PAC also worked with Householder’s campaign committee at the height of the massive bribery conspiracy.
• In addition to the questionable logic of LaRose’s claim that Issue 1 would protect Ohio from corruption like Householder’s is the fact that LaRose apparently didn’t raise any alarms during the former speaker’s 38-month racketeering conspiracy. In fact, some of the corrupt bailout’s central figures said they were in communication with LaRose during critical parts of it.
• “LaRose is expecting us to be publicly supportive of him,” Borges said, according to messages displayed during his and Householder’s trial. Borges explained that LaRose expected public calls to recuse himself from the Ohio Ballot Board, which had a say over the repeal election, “because of ‘conflicts.’ He [LaRose] can be our friend in this process, so let’s be prepared to speak for him.”
• And as repeal signatures were gathered, FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones texted John Kiani, the chairman of the FirstEnergy subsidiary that was to receive $1 billion of the bailout. Jones’ message indicated that — despite LaRose now saying everybody knew Householder was a crook — both he [LaRose] and Householder had been providing the FirstEnergy CEO with “private” information on the repeal effort.
• FirstEnergy, which signed a deferred-prosecution agreement over its involvement in the conspiracy, gave LaRose more than $25,000 during his 2018 race for secretary of state.
• LaRose’s office hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment on the secretary of state’s involvement in the Householder scandal. Nor did Andrea Martin. 
• Her firm, ANM Consulting, is raising money for a super PAC, the Leadership for Ohio Fund, that is expected to support a likely bid by LaRose to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown next year. ANM Consulting in 2019 received $7,600 from Friends of Larry Householder, the now-convicted speaker’s political action committee.
• Martin’s firm last year also received $45,000 from Protect Ohio Values, a super PAC that supported Republican J.D. Vance’s U.S. Senate bid. The PAC is now the subject of a complaint to the Federal Election Commission that it illegally coordinated its activities with the Vance campaign during the 2022 election.

See also: Ohioans Slam LaRose for Sketchy Fundraising, “Campaigning Out of His Office;” Ohioan Calls Out Frank LaRose: “Stop the Sketchy Political Tactics;” Editorial Board Calls On LaRose to “Do Better” After His “Shadow Campaign” Raises Ethics Concerns; Ethics Concerns Surround Frank LaRose’s “Shadow Campaign” for Ohio’s Senate Seat; New Reporting Raises Ethical, Legal Questions For Frank LaRose