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The Athens Messenger: “[Ohio Workers] Shared Their Thoughts On The Upcoming Senate Election, And Heavy Criticism Of Moreno’s Past Actions.”

Athens, OH – This week Ohio workers in Athens “condemn[ed]” Bernie Moreno for his record of “stiffing his employees” and “shredding documents.” This is the latest scrutiny Moreno has faced for refusing to pay his employees what they were owed and deliberately destroying evidence to get out of paying them, including one case where Moreno “stiffed [a former employee] out of money that Moreno personally promised him” and “improperly altered” documentation to try to get away with it.

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The Athens Messenger: Workers share thoughts on US Senate race
Anna Millar
August 28, 2024

• A group of union members and workers from Athens County gathered at the community park in The Plains on Monday… condemning Republican Party candidate, Bernie Moreno.

• The event featured three speakers: Ted Linscott, president of Southeast Ohio AFL-CIO Central Labor Council; Buddy Malone, business manager of Parkersburg-Marietta Building Trades; and Liz Klintworth, a Southeast OAPSE field representative. Each speaker shared their thoughts on the upcoming senate election, and heavy criticism of Moreno’s past actions.

• As the speakers continued, Malone, Linscott and Klintworth each shared similar complaints against Moreno, as they referenced two lawsuits regarding worker compensation which he has faced. Each speaker described Moreno’s actions as “stiffing his employees.”

• Moreno faced a lawsuit in 2014 from Michael Falcone, a former employee who stated he had not received his agreed upon compensation and was fired after inquiring about the situation, according to Cleveland.com.

• Additionally, the group of speakers highlighted their anger with Moreno for “shredding documents” in relation to a separate lawsuit.

• Moreno faced another lawsuit in 2017 from former employee Omar Adem, who accused him of routinely leaving Adem unpaid for overtime hours. Additionally, Moreno was found to have either lost or destroyed necessary evidence to the case, according to pdfs of the court documents available on NBC4.com.

• The Messenger reached out to Moreno’s press team to request a comment on these accusations, but did not receive a response.

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WKYC: Bernie Moreno And His Companies Have Been Sued Dozens Of Times, Despite His Claim That He’s Been Sued Just 5 Times In 15 Years: VERIFY

Columbus, OH – New reporting from WKYC details the “dozen of times” Bernie Moreno has been sued by his former employees which is “much more than” what Moreno has falsely claimed on the campaign trail. Moreno has faced scrutiny for his record as a car salesman, which includes over a dozen lawsuits where Moreno refused to pay his employees what they were owed, including one case where he deliberately destroyed evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying them.

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WKYC: How many times was Ohio US Senate candidate Bernie Moreno sued during his business career? VERIFY
Stephanie Haney
August 28, 2024

• In an interview with The Vindicator in the Youngstown area, Moreno told the publication he was sued just five times in 15 years of business.

• If you search for “Bernie Moreno Companies” as a defendant on the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas online docket, 13 cases show up. A search in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, reveals at least 10 lawsuits against Moreno’s M11 Motors, LLC.

• There was at least one administrative action against Moreno’s M10 Motors Inc. in Florida, and a search of federal court records shows multiple lawsuits against Moreno’s companies in Ohio, Florida, and California naming M1 Motors Inc., M2 Motors Inc., M10 Motors Inc., M10 Motors LLC, and Bernie Moreno Companies.

• So we can VERIFY that this claim is false. Moreno was not sued just five times in 15 years of business. It was much more than that.

• I told Moreno’s campaign that we uncovered dozens of court cases involving his companies, and asked for his comment on that… His campaign didn’t address lawsuits filed in any other state, including the 13 that show up in Cuyahoga County alone.

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WLIO: “[Local Unions] Speaking Out About The Concerns They Have With The Lack Of Respect They Say Moreno Has For Ohio Workers.”

Lima, OH – Yesterday, Ohio workers in Lima called out Bernie Moreno for “selling out workers” and “lying to [workers’] faces” after a recent NBC report caught Moreno “preparing a return to the auto industry” despite repeatedly claiming he “sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest.”

Moreno has faced scrutiny for refusing to pay his employees what they were owed and deliberately destroying evidence to get out of paying them, in addition to lying about selling Chinese-made cars that Ohio workers say “shipped Ohio jobs overseas.”

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WLIO: “Citing concerns for Ohio’s labor force, local unions came out today against Bernie Moreno… speaking out about the concerns they have with the lack of respect they say Moreno has for Ohio workers.”

WLIO: “With the court actions against him for not paying earned overtime to his own employees, and the recent NBC News report that he has bought land to get back into the auto sales business, these laborers say that’s not what Ohio needs.”

Tiffany McKee, United Steelworkers: “Well as a staff representative, I fight against exactly what Bernie Moreno is every single day, against people that want to take advantage of our workers.”

Lima News: UAW continues criticism of Moreno
Jacob Espinosa
August 28, 2024

• Senate candidate Bernie Moreno said there was zero contradiction with his investment in a car dealership and his promises to divest from all operating businesses. Lima autoworkers do not see it that way and criticized him in a press conference Wednesday.

• “He’s lying to our faces and getting rich,” UAW Local 1219 President Jeff Adams said. “He’s a megamillionaire and has spent years selling out Ohio workers.”

• Delaware County documents from April show Moreno signed a mortgage agreement for a Mercedes-Benz Dealership as a manager for M20 Realty and M20 Motors.

• Moreno, the Republican candidate in November’s election. who also signed a landlord agreement for the companies, denied any conflict… UAW representatives were not buying it…

• “He stole from his own workers, and he steals from people that he might see every day,” UAW Lima-Troy Cap Council chairperson George Jeffries said. “What’s going to keep him representing us 14 million Ohioans, whom he never expects to meet?”

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WCMH: “A New Controversy…For Republican Senate Candidate And Former Car Dealer Bernie Moreno, Who Appears To Also Be A Future Car Dealer.”

Columbus, OH – There’s a “new controversy” for “former car dealer Bernie Moreno, who appears to also be a future car dealer” after he was caught “re-launch[ing] his family’s high-end car sales business” despite telling Ohioans he “sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest” for months.

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WCMH: “A new controversy…for Republican Senate candidate and former car dealer Bernie Moreno, who appears to also be a future car dealer. In new personal financial disclosures, Moreno reveals he is the manager of a realty business that paid more than $9 million for a 25 acre plot in Delaware County…the land is the future home of a Mercedes-Benz Dealership.”

WCMH: “[T]he Republican candidate repeatedly said he sold all of his businesses to avoid the appearance of any conflicts of interest during his campaign…”

WATCH MORE FROM WKYC HERE

WKYC: “Ohio Republican Senate nominee Bernie Moreno is planning to build a new car dealership. A recent financial disclosure filed by him shows him managing two companies, including a realty business that is being developed into a Mercedes-Benz dealership.”

WKYC: “In an interview with NBC News, Moreno confirmed his involvement… This comes after he had claimed that he sold all his businesses to avoid any conflicts of interest.”

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WFMJ: “A new report from NBC News says that Bernie Moreno…is preparing a return to the auto industry. The [financial disclosure] statement identifies Moreno as the manager of two companies, one of which is developing a new Mercedes-Benz dealership.” 

WFMJ: “Now, Moreno has said on several occasions that he sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest while running for Senate. He confirmed his involvement, but tells NBC that he does not see this one as a conflict of interest since the company is not providing any income just yet.”

WATCH MORE FROM WBDT HERE

WBDT: “In new personal financial disclosures, Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno reveals that he is the manager of a realty business that paid more than $9 million for a 25 acre plot in Delaware County. The land is the future home of a Mercedes-Benz dealership.”

WBDT: “Democrats are now criticizing Moreno for the new venture, because he repeatedly said he sold off all of his businesses to avoid the appearance of any conflicts during his campaign.”

WATCH MORE FROM WLWT HERE

WLWT: “…Republican, Bernie Moreno is preparing to return to the auto industry. This comes after Moreno said repeatedly he sold off all of his companies to run for US Senate… ‘this is just another example of Moreno being not trustworthy.’”

Cleveland.com: Bernie Moreno pursues new business venture as he challenges Sen. Sherrod Brown, disclosure shows
Andrew J. Tobias
August 27, 2024

• Republican businessman Bernie Moreno is working to re-launch his family’s high-end car sales business as he runs for U.S. Senate, recent financial disclosures show

• In April, a Moreno-controlled business spent $9.5 million to buy a 25-acre plot of land near an outlet mall in Delaware County off Interstate 71, about 10 miles north of Columbus. County records show Moreno took out a mortgage through Mercedes-Benz around the same time.

• Moreno and his wife, Bridget, meanwhile are worth between $17.9 million and $77.3 million – totaling the disclosed worth of their assets minus several mortgages. They made between $1 million and $6.9 million in income last year, mostly from dividends, interest and capital gains.

• After dropping out of the 2022 U.S. Senate race ahead of that year’s Republican primary election, Moreno began exploring how to re-enter the business.

• That doesn’t mean Moreno has liquidated his business holdings though. His disclosures show he and his wife own stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other shares of publicly traded and privately held businesses worth between $12.5 and $52.6 million.

• Among Moreno’s business holdings are a stake worth $1 million to $5 million in the Yellowstone Housing Opportunities Fund, an affiliate of Yellowstone, a private equity firm run by Moreno’s family that operates in Colombia and the U.S.

• In addition, the Morenos own shares of commercial real estate worth between $2.3 million and $11.1 million, including the site of the planned future Mercedes-Benz dealership outside Columbus.

• The report also says the Moreno’s have between $2 million and $7 million in cash.

TiffinOhio.Net: Bernie Moreno plans new auto dealership after claiming to have sold all businesses to avoid conflicts of interest
August 27, 2024

• Ohio GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno is under scrutiny following revelations that he plans to open a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Delaware County, Ohio.

• As reported by NBC News, Moreno’s recent financial disclosure indicates his involvement in two companies developing the dealership.

• This news comes despite Moreno’s claims on the campaign trail that he had divested from all of his businesses to focus solely on his political campaign.

• “I got rid of all my operating businesses, anything that would have given me a conflict,” Moreno said in an interview in May with Kitco News… “I knew defeating Sherrod Brown was going to be very difficult. What did I do? I sold every one of my businesses, made sure I had no conflicts of interest, so that I could focus my complete attention to do this,” he said.

• During his campaign, Moreno has faced criticism for his past business practices as a car dealer. Groups have highlighted lawsuits against him over workplace discrimination and unpaid wages, using these issues to attack his credibility. Sen. Sherrod Brown, his Democratic opponent, has also criticized Moreno, accusing him of being disconnected from the needs of Ohio workers.

• According to NBC News, in his recent personal financial disclosure statement, a form that Senate candidates are required to file, Moreno listed more than 20 “business entities” as assets, including M20 Realty LLC, as well as other limited liability companies and limited partnerships.

Cleveland.com: Capitol Letter: Family tradition
August 28, 2024

• Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno is trying to relaunch his family’s car-sales business as he runs for the U.S. Senate. Andrew Tobias writes that property records show a Moreno-connected business spent $9.5 million to buy plot of land near an outlet mall in Delaware County off Interstate 71 and took out a mortgage through Mercedes-Benz around the same time.

SEE ALSO: NEW: Car Salesman Bernie Moreno Caught “Preparing Return To Auto Industry” After Claiming He “Sold Off All Of His Business To Avoid Conflicts Of Interest”

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NBC News: Ohio GOP Senate Candidate Plans New Car Dealership Amid Scrutiny Of His Businesses

Columbus, OH – New reporting from NBC finds that Bernie Moreno’s been caught “preparing a return to the auto industry” and will open a new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Ohio after repeatedly claiming he “sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest” on the campaign trail. While he was claiming that he “sold every one of [his] businesses,” public records show Moreno actually purchased $9.5 million of land in Delaware County and secured financing through a mortgage agreement with Mercedes-Benz for a new dealership, which will break ground in November.

Moreno has faced scrutiny for his record as a car salesman, which includes over a dozen lawsuits where Moreno refused to pay his employees what they were owed, deliberately destroyed evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying them, and lied about selling Chinese-made cars that Ohio workers say shipped Ohio jobs overseas.

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NBC News: Ohio GOP Senate candidate plans new car dealership amid scrutiny of his businesses
Henry J. Gomez
August 27, 2024

• Bernie Moreno, the Republican Senate nominee in Ohio whose past as a car dealer has been mocked and scrutinized by his Democratic rival, is preparing a return to the auto industry.

• In a recently filed personal financial disclosure statement, Moreno identified himself as a manager of two companies — including a realty business that he lists as an asset — that, according to public records, are developing a Mercedes-Benz dealership.

• Moreno, who has said several times during his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown that he sold off all of his businesses to avoid conflicts of interest, confirmed his involvement in an interview.

• “I got rid of all my operating businesses, anything that would have given me a conflict,” Moreno said in an interview in May with Kitco News, which covers the precious metals market and cryptocurrency, another business in which Moreno has invested.

• “I knew defeating Sherrod Brown was going to be very difficult. What did I do? I sold every one of my businesses, made sure I had no conflicts of interest, so that I could focus my complete attention to do this,” he said.

• “One of the things I firmly believe in is not just to run for office and set an example as a senator, but [to] set an example as a candidate, which means be completely free of any conflicts of interest,” Moreno said in January at a town hall event with pastors. “I don’t believe that senators should trade stocks, should own companies. You’ve got to be completely clear, completely clean, of any conflicts of interest.”

• In his recent personal financial disclosure statement, a form that Senate candidates are required to file, Moreno listed more than 20 “business entities” as assets, including M20 Realty LLC, as well as other limited liability companies and limited partnerships.

• M20 Realty and M20 Motors LLC each filed articles of organization with the Ohio secretary of state in June 2022, records show. M20 Motors then registered Mercedes-Benz of Sunbury as a trade name in September 2022, listing Moreno’s home near Cleveland as its address. Moreno’s financial disclosure identified him as a manager for both companies and listed M20 Realty as an asset that “had a value of more than $1,000 or generated income of more than $200.”

• In April, weeks after Moreno won the Senate primary, M20 Realty acquired land in Sunbury, a suburb north of Columbus, for $9.5 million, according to property records in Delaware County. Around that time, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA entered into a mortgage agreement with M20 Realty. Moreno signed the mortgage as a manager for M20 Realty and signed a landlord/tenant agreement between M20 Realty and M20 Motors on behalf of both companies, according to copies accessed on the county’s website.

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