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Associated Press: Senate Candidate Bernie Moreno Campaigns As An Outsider. His Wealthy Family Is Politically Connected

Columbus, OH – New reporting from the Associated Press finds that despite campaigning as a “political outsider and immigrant whose family built its way out of rudimentary beginnings,” Bernie Moreno has “deep political connections,” with close family members “recycl[ing] through senior government jobs,” along with enormous wealth that “goes back generations.” Moreno continues to face scrutiny for “gross[ly] exaggerat[ing]” his “riches-to-rags-to-riches” origin story which he has made the “signature pitch” of his campaign.

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Associated Press: Senate candidate Bernie Moreno campaigns as an outsider. His wealthy family is politically connected
Julie Carr Smyth and Joshua Goodman
July 28, 2024

• Bernie Moreno was ready with a quip when a radio host in his native Colombia asked why he would want to trade his successful professional and personal life in Ohio for the toils of the U.S. Senate.

• “Remember that my brother, Luis Alberto, just got out of politics — and there always needs to be a Moreno in politics,” he replied in Spanish during the 2021 interview. “Otherwise, what happens in the world, right?”

• The lighthearted response from Moreno, the Republican nominee for Senate in Ohio, hints at his family’s deep political connections in both the United States and Colombia. Those ties, combined with his family’s considerable wealth in their home country, are the backdrop to Moreno’s journey…

• “He comes from one of Colombia’s well-off families, whose wealth goes back generations and whose members recycle through senior government jobs,” said Philip Chicola, a retired U.S. diplomat who once worked closely with Moreno’s older brother.

• Moreno has pitched himself as a political outsider and immigrant whose family built its way out of rudimentary beginnings in the U.S. thanks to the American dream.

• Moreno built his fortune as a luxury car dealer and blockchain entrepreneur. If elected, he would be among the top eight wealthiest senators, based on the most recent data from the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, with an estimated net worth between $25.5 million and $105.7 million.

• [Chicola] called Bernie Moreno’s immigrant origin tale a “gross exaggeration.”

• Many of Luis Alberto Moreno’s connections in business stem from his time as president of the Washington-based Inter-American Development Bank [IDB]…

• Another brother, Roberto Moreno, is co-founder and president of Amarilo Construction, one of Colombia’s largest builders of affordable housing… corporate records show at least some of IDB’s funding going to banks that worked with Amarilo, and Bernie Moreno’s financial disclosures indicate he is heavily invested in a U.S. affiliate of the company.

• Bernie Moreno’s siblings and their spouses have donated more than $134,000 since 2021 to Bernie Moreno’s two Senate runs, campaign finance records show.

• Moreno’s campaign also received $2,900 in 2021 from Luis Andrade, his cousin.

• Last year, [Andrade] was banned from holding office for 15 years as a result of an administrative disciplinary proceeding, which is now being appealed. He also faces criminal charges.

SEE ALSO: NEW: NYT Report Details Bernie Moreno’s Phony “Rags-To-Riches Tale” & Lies About “Bootstraps Story” As Part Of “Calculated Process of Self-Creation”

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Columbus, OH – As 100 days until #OHSEN general election approaches, Bernie Moreno continues to make it clear that he only looks out for himself. This week, Moreno faced scrutiny for comparing “[federal laws regulating alcohol] and regulating abortion federally” and quadrupling down in support of a national abortion ban in the past two weeks. Plus, Moreno was called out yet again for being a “liar” and being “only out for himself.”

NEED-TO-KNOW THIS WEEK:

• Moreno is facing scrutiny for making a “connection between [federal laws regulating alcohol] and regulating abortion federally,” marking the fourth time in two weeks where Moreno said he supports a national abortion ban which would overturn the will of Ohio voters.

• In a recent letter to the editor, Sycamore Township Resident Isaac Goff-Mitchell slammed Bernie Moreno for being a “liar” and called out Moreno for his “​​disgraceful” attempts to “trick us into voting for him.”

• Ohioans were reminded this week that Bernie Moreno “doesn’t believe there should be a minimum wage” and said “the market will flush that out.”

🚫 REGULATING ABORTION LIKE… ALCOHOL?: For the fourth time in two weeks, Moreno made it clear he would “[leave] the door open” to a national abortion ban. Moreno went on to “suggest the issue of [abortion] could be handled at the federal level like alcohol,” which led to scrutiny over what he meant by making a “connection between [federal laws regulating alcohol] and regulating abortion federally.” Moreno has said his position on abortion is “crystal, crystal clear” and “has not changed,” and previously he has said is “100% pro-life with no exceptions” and “absolute pro-life, no exceptions.”

🔥 LIAR ON FIRE: Bernie Moreno once again is being slammed for his record of “stiffing workers,” “shredding evidence” and making “dubious claims” on the campaign trail. In the Cincinnati Enquirer, Sycamore Township Resident Isaac Goff-Mitchell made it clear Ohioans “can’t trust [Moreno]… because he’s only out for himself.”

💵 MILLIONAIRE MORENO OPPOSES EXISTENCE OF MINIMUM WAGE: On the 15th anniversary of the last minimum wage increase, Ohioans were reminded that Bernie Moreno “doesn’t believe there should be a minimum wage.” This is one example of Moreno’s anti-worker record that has led Ohio workers to slam Moreno for “putting profits over people” and “betray[ing] workers.”

 🗞️ WHAT OHIOANS ARE READING THIS WEEK:

• New York Post: “When asked if he would vote for a national abortion ban… Moreno left the door open to supporting further federal restrictions.”

• Heartland Signal: “Before the RNC in Milwaukee, Moreno told reporters that his stance on abortion is “crystal clear” and “has not changed,” suggesting that he was still “100 percent pro-life with zero exceptions.”

• Sycamore Township Resident Isaac Goff-Mitchell: “Here’s the truth: Moreno is a shady used car salesman who always puts himself first and has screwed over workers time and again.”

• WKYC: “[Moreno’s national abortion ban] bans abortion for most people, almost all people.”

• Herald-Star: “[Moreno] was sued in 2017 by former employees for failing to pay for overtime worked and who ultimately lost the suit, paying the employees $416,160 in damages.”

🐤 TWEET OF THE WEEK:

🎶 CODA: “Bernie Moreno has shown Ohioans he is a liar. We can’t trust him to fight for us because he’s only out for himself.”

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Columbus, Ohio- Today, the Republican-controlled Ohio Supreme Court ruled in the case of Berkheimer v REKM that boneless chicken wings can have bones. 

In this case, a Southwest Ohio man ate a “boneless” chicken wing that actually contained a bone, suffering an injury that would prove life-altering. Naturally, he sued the supplier of chicken wings for damages. But in a 4-3 vote, Supreme Court Republicans ruled that he should have reasonably expected that there was a bone in the boneless wings. From the trial court on, this case was decided by a panel of judges, not a jury of his peers.

“The majority opinion makes a factual determination to ensure that a jury does not have a chance to apply something the majority opinion lacks − common sense,” wrote Democratic Justice Michael Donnelly in his dissent.

“Today’s shameful decision is yet another example of Republicans on the Supreme Court throwing common sense out the window to help special interests– at the cost of standing up for Ohioans.” said Ohio Democratic Party spokeswoman Katie Seewer. “If Republicans want a result in a case, they’ll stop at nothing to get it- even if it means contorting the truth so that bones can be expected in boneless chicken. If they are willing to say something that any kindergartener would know is nonsense, what happens when complex matters come to the court? Are Ohioans expected to trust this GOP majority with their reproductive rights and upholding the constitution? 

Columbus, OH –  On the 15th anniversary of the last minimum wage increase, Ohioans are being reminded that Bernie Moreno “doesn’t believe there should be a minimum wage” and said “the market will flush that out.”

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Cleveland.com: Ohio Senate race: Where do the Republican candidates stand on minimum wage hike?
Andrew Tobias
February 27, 2024

• During a televised candidate forum last week…Bernie Moreno [was] asked about the minimum wage and whether they thought there even should be a minimum wage.

• Moreno said that “markets are the best way to determine what a wage should be,” adding that employers can choose to offer good wages and benefits to get good workers.

• “And at the end of the day, the markets will flush that out…”

American Journal: Republican Bernie Moreno opposes existence of minimum wage
Jesse Valentine
February 23, 2024

• U.S. Senate candidate Bernie Moreno doesn’t believe there should be a minimum wage.

• The moderator asked point blank if the minimum wage should exist.

• “The markets are the best way to determine what wages should be,” Moreno said. “At the end of the day the market will flush that out.”

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Bernie Moreno “Suggest[ed] That Abortion Could Be Regulated At The Federal Level In A Way Similar To Alcohol”

Columbus, OH – After reporting revealed Bernie Moreno “suggest[ed] the issue [of abortion] could be handled at the federal level like alcohol,” Moreno is facing further scrutiny for making a “connection between [federal laws regulating alcohol] and regulating abortion federally.” On four separate occasions in the past two weeks, Moreno has confirmed “he still believes in national legislation” to ban abortion which would overturn the will of Ohioans.

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Heartland Signal: Bernie Moreno says abortion should be regulated federally like alcohol
Richard Eberwein
July 23, 2024

• Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno… suggest[ed] that abortion could be regulated at the federal level in a way similar to alcohol.

• While each state has varying laws for the sale and use of liquor, the only federal regulation is that individuals must be 21 years old to purchase and possess alcohol in the United States… it is unclear how Moreno sees a connection between this law and regulating abortion federally.

• Before the RNC in Milwaukee, Moreno told reporters that his stance on abortion is “crystal clear” and “has not changed,” suggesting that he was still “100 percent pro-life with zero exceptions.”

• Moreno opposed Ohio’s Issue 1 ballot measure last fall.

• Days before Issue 1 passed, Moreno falsely claimed that the measure would allow a rapist to “force” a woman to have an abortion.

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