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This week in #OHSen, we saw a fundraising scandal, outsourced campaign footage from Russia and Ukraine and intra-party sniping over donations to a fellow Ohio Republican. And with more phony populists reportedly set to enter the race, the already messy Republican Senate primary is sure to get messier from here.

Here’s a recap of Ohio Republicans’ rough week:

Josh Mandel Gotta Josh Mandel

• Josh Mandel is so extreme and unappealing as a candidate that even loyal donors of his own party don’t want to associate with him. Axios reported over the weekend that Mandel was kicked out of a Republican National Committee event in Florida after showing up uninvited. While Mandel portrays himself as ‘anti-establishment,’ he’s so desperate to win the approval of Republican mega-donors, he’s willing to try and crash their parties — and get kicked out in the process. Read more HERE.
• Days after he was kicked out of the GOP fundraising event, Josh then turned to the donor base he knows best — donors with shady records surrounded by criminal allegations. The Toledo Blade reported that Mandel is hosting a fundraiser with Jeff Anstead, whose company faces a multi-million dollar fine for reportedly defrauding a federal program that helps Americans afford telephone and internet service. Read more HERE.

Mike Gibbons Outsources the American Dream

• Republican Senate candidate Mike Gibbons kicked off his campaign this week promising to run a different kind of campaign. Apparently, that includes using stock footage from Russia and Ukraine in his announcement video while trying to claim he’s fighting for the American dream. While Ohio offers several idyllic backdrops — Russia, Ohio is a good option — Gibbons chose to outsource campaign footage, which raises questions about what else Gibbons would be willing to outsource out of Ohio. Read more HERE.

Jane Timken Lies about Kasich Donation

• Despite telling a radio show host that she ‘never donated or supported his (Kasich’s) presidential campaign,’ campaign finance reports reveal that Jane Timken and her husband both donated the maximum amount to Kasich 2016 presidential campaign. This set off a firestorm among Republican Senate candidates, as they eviscerated Timken for…donating to another Ohio Republican. Read more HERE.

Bernie Moreno Tries to Backtrack Trump Criticisms

• Henry Gomez of NBC News reports that Republican candidate Bernie Moreno once called Trump a ‘lunatic’ and ‘maniac.’ The reporting comes as Moreno tries to outflank the other Republican candidates trying to claim the Trump mantle, each seemingly more interested in Trump’s endorsement than the endorsement of the voters of Ohio. The story inevitably led to more intra-party sniping, with Moreno’s camp attempting to throw Jane Timken’s campaign under the bus in response to questions from reporters. Read more HERE.

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In Case You Missed It, Republican Senate candidate Mike Gibbons kicked off his campaign this week promising to run a different kind of campaign. Apparently, that includes using stock footage from Russia and Ukraine in his announcement video while trying to claim he’s fighting for the American dream. While Ohio offers several idyllic backdrops — Russia, Ohio is a good option — Gibbons chose to outsource campaign footage, which raises questions about what else Gibbons would be willing to outsource out of Ohio. 

Seth Richardson of Cleveland.com writes: “Despite describing the United States as the ‘greatest country in the history of the world’ in his announcement that he would run for U.S. Senate, businessman Mike Gibbons used foreign stock footage in his video introducing himself to Ohio voters.” 

Read more from Cleveland.com HERE and below:

• Despite describing the United States as the “greatest country in the history of the world” in his announcement that he would run for U.S. Senate, businessman Mike Gibbons used foreign stock footage in his video introducing himself to Ohio voters.
• In a nearly three-minute long video announcing his candidacy, Gibbons, a Republican, opined on the state of Washington and the current political climate in the United States, accompanied by high definition images of what looked like average, everyday Americans.
• The problem? Some of that footage was shot overseas in Russia and Ukraine.
• That includes a portion of the video at around 59 seconds. Gibbons, laying out his background of starting his own business and becoming independently wealthy, explained why he was running for office.
• That footage comes from stock video site Pond5, a New York-based firm for stock photos, videos and music. The video, which costs $69 for high definition or $118 for 4K high definition, was filmed in Russia, according to Pond5.

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In Case You Missed It, after Republican donors kicked Josh Mandel out of a fundraising event he desperately tried to crash this weekend, Josh Mandel is now turning to the donor base he knows best — donors with shady records surrounded by criminal allegations. The Toledo Blade reported late yesterday that Mandel is hosting a fundraiser with Jeff Anstead, whose company faces a multi-million dollar fine for reportedly defrauding a federal program that helps Americans afford telephone and internet service.

In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission levied a record fine of nearly $64 million against Anstead’s American Broadband and Telecommunications for “apparent repeated, systematic, and large-scale violations” after the company allegedly used fake accounts to secure millions of dollars from the federal government program. According to the FCC, Anstead used this money to buy a multi-million dollar condo, a membership to a yacht club and an $8 million personal jet. 

From the Toledo Blade story:  “It would be hard to describe a more brazen or textbook example of fraud,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told The Washington Post, “particularly when the entire purpose of the Lifeline program is to benefit low-income individuals.”

And, as the Toledo Blade reminds us, Mandel has a long history of working closely with donors surrounded by criminal allegations: “His relationship with Canton businessman Ben Suarez was the basis for the government’s 2014 criminal case against Mr. Suarez alleging he illegally funneled money to Mr. Mandel’s failed Senate campaign two years earlier.” 

While it may seem tough for him to sink lower, Josh Mandel always seems to find a way. Will Josh move forward with the May 20 event? Will he return past donations from Anstead? Why does Josh keep surrounding himself with donors who find themselves on the wrong side of the law? 

Read more from the Toledo Blade HERE and below:

• A Toledo telecommunications executive whose company faces a $63 million fine for allegedly defrauding a federal program that helps disadvantaged Americans afford telephone and internet service is hosting a fund-raiser for Republican Senate hopeful Josh Mandel next month.
• Jeff Ansted, the chief executive at Toledo-based American Broadband and Telecommunications, is listed as a host for Mr. Mandel’s May 20 fund-raiser at the Inverness Club, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by The Blade.
• Mr. Ansted hasn’t contributed money directly to federal candidates since the Federal Communications Commission proposed the fine in late 2018, according to federal campaign records. But he backed Mr. Mandel’s earlier Senate bids and has reemerged in time to canvass on his behalf in what’s expected to be a crowded and expensive primary that stretches the state’s Republican donor base.
• In October, 2018, the FCC sought to fine Mr. Ansted’s company a record $63.4 millionfor “apparent repeated, systematic, and large-scale violations” of the federal Lifeline program, which offers a small discount on telecom service for low-income Americans.
• American Broadband was accused of raking in millions in reimbursements using fake accounts and accounts linked to dead people. The FCC alleged Mr. Ansted personally embezzled the money to buy a Ferrari convertible, a $1.3 million Florida condo, yacht club and country club memberships, and an $8 million Cessna jet.
• “It would be hard to describe a more brazen or textbook example of fraud,” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr told The Washington Post, “particularly when the entire purpose of the Lifeline program is to benefit low-income individuals.”
• “I’ve got a relationship that goes back to probably 2014 or 2015 with Josh and he reached out to us and we’re happy to support him,” he said.
• It’s not Mr. Mandel’s first time linked to a controversial GOP donor. His relationship with Canton businessman Ben Suarez was the basis for the government’s 2014 criminal case against Mr. Suarez alleging he illegally funneled money to Mr. Mandel’s failed Senate campaign two years earlier. 

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In Case You Missed It, Josh Mandel is so extreme and unappealing as a candidate that even loyal donors of his own party don’t want to associate with him. Axios reported today that Mandel was kicked out of a Republican National Committee event in Florida after showing up uninvited. While Mandel portrays himself as ‘anti-establishment,’ he’s so desperate to win the approval of Republican mega-donors, he’s willing to try and crash their parties — and get kicked out in the process.

“Despite not having his name on the list, Mandel seized on the opportunity to get some face time with top Republican donors while they all were in one place, one source familiar with his plans told Axios. But when the first event formally kicked off at the hotel Friday night, Mandel and others who did not have credentials were asked to leave,” writes Axios.

While Mandel was kicked out of the event, Jane Timken’s wealth and connections to party elite scored her an invite to the exclusive event. This is just the latest of several desperate attempts by both candidates to score Donald Trump’s endorsement, even as Trump refuses to endorse either one. 

Both Timken and Mandel are clearly more interested in the securing the support of Trump and GOP mega-donors than the Ohioans they claim to want to represent — and seemingly willing to stoop as low as necessary in the process. 

Read more about Mandel being escorted away from the retreat HERE and below:

• During this weekend’s highly anticipated donor retreat hosted by the Republican National Committee in Palm Beach, Ohio Senate candidate Josh Mandel was escorted off the premises while his primary opponent, Jane Timken, was allowed to stay, two sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell Axios.
• The invitation-only event is taking place at the Four Seasons Resort, and the RNC reserved the entire hotel. While Timken, former Ohio GOP chair, was invited to the event “because she is a major donor” — Mandel was not, so he was asked to leave, according to one of the sources.
• Despite not having his name on the list, Mandel seized on the opportunity to get some face time with top Republican donors while they all were in one place, one source familiar with his plans told Axios.
• But when the first event formally kicked off at the hotel Friday night, Mandel and others who did not have credentials were asked to leave.

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In Case You Missed It, a Columbus Dispatch report today raised questions of conflicts of interest involving Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose as he gets set to host a fundraising event with the Strategy Group, a consulting group with ties to the HB 6 scandal. The Strategy Group produced dark-money funded ads for the scandal-ridden HB 6 campaign, a bribery scheme which led to federal charges against then-Speaker Larry Householder and other Ohio Republicans as they lined their own pockets while putting Ohio taxpayers on the hook for a massive nuclear bailout. 

The Strategy Group received top billing on a fundraising invitation sent out on behalf of LaRose’s campaign this week. 

“Why is LaRose holding a reelection fundraiser Tuesday co-hosted by the Strategy Group? Could it be a conflict of interest for the Republican?” asks Darrel Rowland of the Dispatch, detailing next week’s fundraiser. 

While LaRose has publicly claimed to oppose dark money in politics and has tried to distance himself from Ohio Republicans involved in the HB 6 scandal, his willingness to rub elbows and fundraise with the HB 6-linked group shows these publicity stunts ring hollow and once again demonstrates that LaRose is willing to put his own political interests above the interests of Ohio voters. 

Read more HERE and below:

• The Strategy Group, which was responsible for many ads in the multimillion-dollar effort touting the controversial House Bill 6 bailout of two Ohio nuclear power plants and opposing a referendum to overturn it, is hosting a fundraiser for Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
• At least some of those HB6 spots were funded by dark money, the use of which has been strongly condemned by LaRose.
• Public documents show connections between the consulting firm or its affiliates and the questioned endeavors of Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford, the former Ohio House Speaker who has pleaded innocent to federal charges in what authorities say was a $60 million bribery scheme related to passage of HB6. Strategy Group has not been accused or charged in that matter.
• The consultant also is fighting a subpoena in a separate Elections Commission case on a complaint that the Strategy Group was among the spenders of hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegally undisclosed Householder-connected campaign cash for a southwestern Ohio House seat.
• All this is background to a question: Why is LaRose holding a reelection fundraiser Tuesday co-hosted by the Strategy Group? Could it be a conflict of interest for the Republican?
• The fundraiser invitation seeks campaign contributions of $250 to $2,500. Other hosts include state Sen. Andy Brenner, R-Delaware, Delaware County GOP Chairman Steve Cuckler, and Delaware County Commissioner Jeff Benton, and his wife, Barbara.

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