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#OHSEN Slugfest: Bernie Moreno’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Week

Columbus, OH – From opposing securing the border, to facing more attacks and scrutiny for destroying evidence to get out of paying his employees overtime (plus a new fact check exposing another lie), to a new AP report revealing his sleazy insider past, Bernie Moreno had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week. While Moreno shows Ohioans time and time again they “just can’t trust” him and Frank LaRose and Matt Dolan throw more gasoline on the Slugfest fire, it’s clearer than ever that no one in the #OHSEN field is fighting for Ohioans.

Here’s a recap of what happened last week in what has already been called one of the “messiest”, “most expensive” and “bruising” primary battles in the country.

MORENO IS *AGAINST* STRENGTHENING BORDER SECURITY

Bernie Moreno opposed “the most conservative border bill in decades.” While Moreno tries to talk tough, he is nowhere to be found when it comes to standing up for Ohioans. 

Moreno’s opposition to what’s been called “the most substantial border security policy in 30 years” shows he is “not a serious person” and does not care about doing what’s right for Ohio.  

See what border control agents were saying about this bill:  

Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens on Fox News: “There are aspects of this bill that would have added additional hundreds of border patrol agents to our rank and file. It would have given us more technology. It would have given us more equipment, infrastructure. Of course I’m going to be supportive of that.”

Border Patrol Agents: “[The bill would] drop illegal border crossings nationwide and will allow our agents to get back to detecting and apprehending those who want to cross our border illegally and evade apprehension… This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage.”

In case it wasn’t clear enough:

MORENO STILL FACING ATTACKS OVER SHREDDING EVIDENCE IN WAGE THEFT LAWSUITS

After “downplay[ing] the seriousness” of shredding evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying his employees overtime wages they’d earned, Moreno thought he could get away unscathed.

But it’s clear Ohioans won’t be forgetting this any time soon. At least not if Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose have anything to say about it:

Matt Dolan describing Bernie: “Disingenuous… When people needed his trust, he turned his back on them… it’s another example of where you just can’t trust [Moreno]… He won’t do what’s best for Ohioans and Americans, he will do what’s best for Bernie Moreno.”

Frank LaRose describing Bernie: “This is a guy that does what is in his own best interest… Not [a] trustworthy person… Self-serving…” 

Here’s a refresher from WKYC:

THEY BROUGHT THE RECEIPTS: MORENO GETS CAUGHT RED HANDED TRYING TO ESCAPE SCRUTINY ABOUT HIS PAST

WKYC caught Bernie Moreno red-handed trying to run away from scrutiny about his past. Unfortunately for Bernie, he’s already made it clear he’s only out for himself and doesn’t believe the rules apply to him. 

Remember, Bernie: You can try to run, but you can’t hide! 

FACT CHECK: MORENO CALLED OUT FOR LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH

The Lie: Moreno has blamed “liberal,” “activist,” “lunatic” judges for losing a jury trial that found he had withheld overtime wages.

The Truth: The “judges were largely appointed by Republicans.” 

Mother Jones: “But there’s a problem with Moreno’s defense: it isn’t true.”

Ohioans to Bernie Moreno: 

NEW AP REPORT SHOWS INSIDER BERNIE MORENO USED POLITICAL CONNECTIONS TO BOOST BUSINESSES

A new AP report revealed how Bernie Moreno exploited his “inside” political connections, hefty campaign contributions, and board appointments to “boost” his blockchain businesses – leading Moreno to ultimately cash out for “at least $5 million.” Read more about Moreno exploiting his insider connections here and below.

COMING SOON TO A DEBATE STAGE NEAR YOU

Take out your calendars because the Slugfest Showdown is officially coming back for Rounds 2 and 3. 

More information on Spectrum News’ February 19th debate here.

More information on WLWT’s March 6th debate here.  

Get ready for two more bloodbaths. 

SLUGFEST COUNTDOWN

40 days left until this Slugfest comes to a head and the infighting just keeps getting worse. 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Stephanie Haney, WKYC: “I got Moreno-ghosted.” 

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Mobile Billboard Highlights Moreno’s Opposition to Border Security Bill

Moreno Opposed “Most Conservative Border Bill In Decades” Backed By Border Patrol Agents

Columbus, OH – While Moreno met with donors behind closed doors at a Dayton country club, a mobile billboard reminded local Ohioans that Bernie Moreno opposed the bipartisan border security bill – which was backed by border patrol agents and described as “the most conservative border bill in decades.”

“Bernie Moreno likes to talk tough, but when it comes to strengthening the border and standing up for the people of Ohio, he’s nowhere to be found,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. 

Mobile billboard parked outside Moraine Country Club in Dayton, where Moreno was meeting with donors behind closed doors.

Download the graphic displayed on the mobile billboard here. Find additional photos of the mobile billboard for media use here. 

Read what they were saying about the bill that would have “mark[ed] the first major bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration system since the 1990s”: 

  • Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens on Fox News: “There are aspects of this bill that would have added additional hundreds of border patrol agents to our rank and file. It would have given us more technology. It would have given us more equipment, infrastructure. Of course I’m going to be supportive of that.”
  • National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd: “There’s a lot of things in there, there’s a lot of mechanisms that are good…This [bill] transcends administrations. This will go beyond Biden, it will go beyond Trump. It will go beyond the next president…. We need bills that are going to last…” 
  • Border Patrol Agents: “[The bill would] drop illegal border crossings nationwide and will allow our agents to get back to detecting and apprehending those who want to cross our border illegally and evade apprehension… This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage.”
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see desperately needed border security, asylum, and immigration reforms included in the emergency supplemental funding proposal before the U.S. Senate… We look forward to working with Members of Congress to pass these common sense measures that will improve America’s security by addressing our southern border and supporting Ukraine and Israel.” 
  • Fox News: Bipartisan border package would “overhaul” the immigration system “with tougher and quicker enforcement measures”
  • CBS: “If enacted into law, the emerging deal would mark the first major bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration system since the 1990s.”
  • Politico: Bipartisan border package was “the most stringent immigration bill endorsed by a democratic president in recent memory”
  • NBC News: Bipartisan border package would “impose tougher immigration and asylum laws”
  • CNN: Bipartisan border package “would implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law” 

SEE ALSO: New Digital Ad Highlights Moreno’s Opposition to Border Security Bill; Reminder: As Senate Votes On Border Bill Today, Moreno Is AGAINST Securing The Border; National Border Patrol Council Leader Praises Border Bill, But Moreno Is AGAINST It; Bernie Moreno is AGAINST Strengthening the Border, Don’t Let Him Tell You Otherwise

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Flag on the Play: Ohioans Don’t Know How Much Taxpayer-Funded Super Bowl Trip Cost Thanks to Joe Deters

Columbus, OH – Before Sunday’s big game even begins, Ohioans have already lost, thanks to Joe Deters and the Republican majority on the Ohio Supreme Court. Late last month, Deters ruled that taxpayers don’t deserve to know how much taxpayer money his political ally Mike DeWine spent on his trip to the Super Bowl in 2022. The Governor appointed Deters to the Supreme Court after years of close political connections between the two families, despite Deters lack of judicial experience. 

“Ohioans deserve better than the political backscratching happening on the Ohio Supreme Court. When the Governor appointed Deters after years of close political ties, questions were rightfully raised about Deters’ ability to be impartial. It’s clear those questions have been answered: Deters will always put politics over people,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.

Read more about what Ohio media has to say about Deters’ political ruling:

  • Cincinnati Enquirer: “Enquirer Executive Editor Beryl Love said it best: ‘The fact this decision was made along party lines speaks for itself.’ Four Republicans signed onto the majority opinion, while three Democrats signed onto the dissent, signaling to taxpayers that this case was less about their right to know and more about protecting one of its own.”
  • Cleveland.com: “Well, they voted along party lines instead of doing the right thing. There is no way you cannot make the argument that this is correct. This is not correct. This violates the state law. It violates everything that we hold dear and transparency and creates a gigantic loophole for ludicrous spending.”
  • WTVN Columbus: “The Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, the Ohio Supreme Court said no, we’re going to withhold these records, and the reason bothers me. They suggest that allowing Ohio taxpayers to know how much the DeWine administration spent to go to the Super Bowl would be a security breach, they suggest that disclosing the expense receipts would reveal some security issues, like the size of the detail, which hotels and rental cars they used, when they chose to refuel and other information that could be used to attack the governor in future appearances.”

“Why does that bother you?” 

“Because that is really thin.”

  • Cincinnati.com: “Ohio taxpayers might not know how much they spent to send the governor to the Super Bowl, but the fact his political allies fought to keep it secret suggests it was a sizable sum that would have raised some eyebrows.”

Deters has also faced criticism this week for refusing to recuse himself from a case his office oversaw when he served as Hamilton County Prosecutor. Time and again, Deters has demonstrated to Ohioans that he’s putting his own political interests over theirs. 

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WATCH: Bernie Moreno Faces Scrutiny For Destroying Evidence To Get Out Of Paying His Employees Overtime

Ohioans “just can’t trust” Bernie Moreno

Columbus, OH – Bernie Moreno is still facing scrutiny after reports showed he destroyed evidence he was legally required to keep to get out of paying his employees the overtime they’d earned. Moreno can’t escape his record of wage theft, which has remained a  “major topic of conversation” in this primary with Matt Dolan and Frank LaRose warning Ohioans “just can’t trust” Moreno and lobbing attacks at him for being “disingenuous,” “self-serving,” and “do[ing] what is in his own best interest.” 

WATCH MORE FROM WKYC:

WKYC’s Stephanie Haney: “Bernie Moreno was found liable for overtime wage theft in Massachusetts. This was based on a regulation change in 2015 and it said that people who earn commission – like for example, car salespeople, who he employed –  those commissions can’t count towards overtime pay. So he got sued in 2017. Now while that lawsuit was going on there was a separate ruling in MA in 2019 that confirmed, or affirmed, the results of that regulation change: that people who earn commission on sales still have to be paid for overtime hours. So after that, in 2020… Mr. Moreno was found to have destroyed evidence in that lawsuit that was filed in 2017 and was sanctioned by the judge for that. [Moreno] lost that lawsuit in 2022, had to pay more than $400,00 in damages, and then settled 13 similar lawsuits in 2023. That was right before he announced his candidacy in 2023.” 

WKYC’s Stephanie Haney: “[Bernie Moreno] admitted that he shredded overtime records that he was ordered to keep in a deposition in that lawsuit.”

Matt Dolan: “It’s about trust… Here’s an example in Bernie’s past where he had a chance to stand up and do the fair, right thing for his employees, but he chose to do the right thing for Bernie Moreno. And he got sanctioned for it… It’s about Bernie’s behavior when he had a chance to stand up for his employees and he chose to stand up for himself.”

Frank LaRose: “[Bernie Moreno] is a guy that does what is in his own best interest, his self-serving interest, including not treating his employees fairly, and evidently being willing to destroy evidence. That’s not the kind of trustworthy person that we want to send to…the U.S. Senate. I think that as people learn more about Mr. Moreno’s background… I think people are going to realize he’s trying to sell them a lemon.”

SEE ALSO: New Report Finds Bernie Moreno’s Defense For Destroying Evidence Isn’t True; Bernie Moreno Facing Further Attacks After Reports Show He Shredded Documents To Get Out Of Paying His Employees Overtime; Bernie Moreno Dogged By Reports That He Shredded Evidence To Get Out Of Paying His Employees Overtime, FACT CHECK: Bernie Moreno Destroyed Evidence He Had “Obligation” To Keep To Get Out Of Paying Employees, GOP Debate Clouded By Reports Moreno Destroyed Evidence: Here Are The Facts, Bernie Moreno Destroyed Key Evidence To Get Out Of Paying His Employees Wages They’d Earned

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New Digital Ad Highlights Moreno’s Opposition to Border Security Bill

Ad Targeting Independent Voters Shows Moreno Against “Most Conservative Border Bill In Decades” Backed By Border Patrol Agents

Columbus, OH – A new digital ad running today highlights Bernie Moreno’s opposition to the  bipartisan immigration bill – which has been called “the most conservative border bill in decades” and is backed by border patrol agents. The digital ad will target independent voters across Ohio.

“Bernie Moreno likes to talk tough, but when it comes to strengthening the border and standing up for the people of Ohio, he’s nowhere to be found,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. 

Read more from Punchbowl. See the ad, running on Facebook and Instagram, below:

Read what they’re saying about the bill that would have “mark[ed] the first major bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration system since the 1990s”: 

  • National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd: “There’s a lot of things in there, there’s a lot of mechanisms that are good…This [bill] transcends administrations. This will go beyond Biden, it will go beyond Trump. It will go beyond the next president…. We need bills that are going to last…” 
  • Border Patrol Agents: “[The bill would] drop illegal border crossings nationwide and will allow our agents to get back to detecting and apprehending those who want to cross our border illegally and evade apprehension… This is why the National Border Patrol Council endorses this bill and hopes for its quick passage.”
  • U.S. Chamber of Commerce: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see desperately needed border security, asylum, and immigration reforms included in the emergency supplemental funding proposal before the U.S. Senate… We look forward to working with Members of Congress to pass these common sense measures that will improve America’s security by addressing our southern border and supporting Ukraine and Israel.” 
  • Fox News: Bipartisan border package would “overhaul” the immigration system “with tougher and quicker enforcement measures”
  • CBS: “If enacted into law, the emerging deal would mark the first major bipartisan overhaul of the nation’s immigration system since the 1990s.”
  • Politico: Bipartisan border package was “the most stringent immigration bill endorsed by a democratic president in recent memory”
  • NBC News: Bipartisan border package would “impose tougher immigration and asylum laws”
  • CNN: Bipartisan border package “would implement strict limits along the US southern border that have not been previously enshrined into law” 

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