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AP REPORT: Moreno Exploited “Inside” Political Connections To Boost Businesses

Associated Press: “Moreno sat on two government boards…each of those public entities boosted Moreno’s blockchain business while he served.”

Columbus, OH – A new must-read report from the Associated Press today reveals how Bernie Moreno exploited his “inside” political connections, hefty campaign contributions, and board appointments to secure government contracts that “boosted” his blockchain businesses – leading Moreno to ultimately cash out for “at least $5 million.” 

“Bernie Moreno is the ultimate political insider – using his personal fortune and inside connections to steer government business towards himself and ultimately pocket millions,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. “Moreno’s sleazy, insider behavior makes it clear: Moreno is only out for himself – not Ohioans.”

Read more:

Associated Press: Bernie Moreno running for Senate as outsider, but public entities he served boosted his business

Julie Carr Smyth

February 7, 2024

  • In his bid for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno has cast himself in the mold of former President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him: that of “political outsider.”
  • But Moreno has, at times, served on the inside. Shortly before he entered politics, he sat on two government boards — one in Columbus, one in Cleveland. An Associated Press review found that each of those public entities boosted Moreno’s blockchain business while he served.
  • That isn’t to say Moreno walked away empty-handed. When he cashed out his shares in blockchain company Ownum in April 2023, in order to avoid conflicts of interest, Moreno reported they were worth at least $5 million. Some of the company’s earliest votes of confidence had come from InnovateOhio and MetroHealth.
  • Moreno was appointed to the InnovateOhio Executive Board by Lt. Gov. Jon Husted in April 2019. Moreno had stood beside Husted and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine as the new office was announced the previous September, and was a featured guest at their technology-themed inaugural celebration that January.
  • Moreno and Husted already had a history….Moreno contributed a combined $20,000 to [Husted’s] political campaigns, state campaign finance reports show. Moreno gave another $25,000 to the DeWine-Husted for Ohio gubernatorial campaign in June 2018 — shortly after Ownum was incorporated.
  • At the time of Moreno’s appointment [to InnovateOhio], the company had just announced its first product: a paperless blockchain option for vehicle titling, called CHAMPtitles. Moreno already had made it known that Ownum would be pitching CHAMPtitles to Ohio, among other states.
  • Fast-forward to December 2019. In an address at the Blockland Solutions Conference in Cleveland, Husted said that InnovateOhio working groups had identified the Bureau of Motor Vehicles as the first place the state would try out blockchain technology, which generates “blocks” of information or transactions into ledgers that are secure and transparent. Husted said the office had received a “proposal” — he didn’t mention from whom — for the state to work with the private sector to modify Ohio’s vehicle titling system. CHAMPtitles tweeted the “exciting news.”
  • Something like Husted’s backing — or the later support of MetroHealth’s CEO — held potential financial benefits for the company, said Jonah Berger, an associate professor of marketing at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “It can almost act as a signal of quality,” he said, to other states, governors or hospital systems considering the product.
  • “If it’s a new company that nobody’s ever heard of before, either affiliations with people that others trust, or endorsements from people that others trust, can sometimes be beneficial,” he said.
  • Then-Cuyahoga County Council member Shontel Brown, now a Democratic congresswoman, told The Plain Dealer at the time that it was abnormal that Moreno didn’t attend his own confirmation hearing. She also said the process was rushed at the request of MetroHealth CEO Dr. Akram Boutros, who wanted Moreno confirmed ahead of the health system’s October board meeting.
  • Six months later, Ownum’s second product, Vital Chain — which provided blockchain birth and death certificates — landed MetroHealth as its first client. 

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Reminder: As Senate Votes On Border Bill Today, Moreno Is AGAINST Securing The Border 

Moreno Opposes “The Most Conservative Border Bill In Decades”

Columbus, OH – As the Senate votes on “the most conservative border bill in decades” today, Ohioans need to know that Bernie Moreno is against securing the border. 

“For the first time in decades, there’s a real, bipartisan opportunity to strengthen our border but Bernie Moreno has come out against it. Bernie Moreno likes to talk tough, but when it comes to standing up for the people of Ohio he’s nowhere to be found,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. 

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

  • 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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National Border Patrol Council Leader Praises Border Bill, But Moreno Is AGAINST It

National Border Patrol Council President: “There’s a lot of things in there, there’s a lot of mechanisms that are good.”

Columbus, OH – The head of the Border Patrol agents praised the bipartisan border bill, saying “there’s a lot of things in there, there’s a lot of mechanisms that are good” but Bernie Moreno is against it. 

“For the first time in decades, there’s a real opportunity to strengthen our border but Bernie Moreno has come out against it. The fact is law enforcement, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Republican senators support this proposal to make America safer.  Bernie Moreno likes to talk tough, but when it comes to standing up for the people of Ohio he’s nowhere to be found,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. 

National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd on Fox Business: “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…” 

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

  • 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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Bernie Moreno is AGAINST Strengthening the Border, Don’t Let Him Tell You Otherwise

Moreno Opposes “Most Conservative Border Bill In Decades,” Backed By Border Patrol Agents, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Columbus, OH – Bernie Moreno is against “the most conservative border bill in decades” – despite the bill being backed by border patrol agents and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Moreno’s opposition to what’s been called “the most substantial border security policy in 30 years” again shows he is “not a serious person” and does not care about doing what’s right for Ohio.  

“For the first time in decades, there’s a real opportunity to strengthen our border but Bernie Moreno has come out against it. The fact is law enforcement, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Republican senators support this proposal to make America safer.  Bernie Moreno likes to talk tough, but when it comes to standing up for the people of Ohio he’s nowhere to be found,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. 

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

  • 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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MUST READ: New Report Finds Bernie Moreno’s Defense For Destroying Evidence Isn’t True

Mother Jones: Moreno blames “liberal judges” but they were “largely appointed by Republicans” 

Columbus, OH –  New reporting today finds Bernie Moreno’s defense for destroying evidence is not true. Moreno has blamed “liberal,” “activist,” “lunatic” judges for losing a jury trial that found he had withheld overtime wages but the fact is the “judges were largely appointed by Republicans.”

“Refusing to pay overtime, destroying evidence he was legally required to keep and now lying about why he was forced to pay his former employees – Moreno is showing Ohioans exactly why they cannot trust him,” said ODP spokesperson Katie Smith. “Moreno’s latest lies prove that Moreno doesn’t believe the rules apply to him and is only out for himself.”

Mother Jones: A GOP Senate Candidate Blames “Liberal” Judges for His Labor Violations. Just One Problem With That

Abby Vesoulis

February 5, 2024

  • As the former operator of M11 Motors, a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Burlington, Massachusetts, Moreno was found liable by a jury for […] Withholding at least $53,500 in overtime wages from two employees between 2015 and 2018 and shredding company documents relevant to the lawsuit while the case was ongoing.
  • Lately, he has falsely blamed his legal troubles on the “liberal” and “activist” judges involved in the outcome of his case.
  • But there’s a problem with Moreno’s defense: it isn’t true.
  • The judge overseeing Moreno’s jury trial, Michael Ricciuti, was no liberal activist. He was a Republican-appointed jurist who also served as chief of the anti-terrorism and national security unit of the Boston US Attorney’s office under President George W. Bush.
  • The state supreme court that later upheld a wage regulation requiring employers like Moreno to pay sales staff overtime was also predominantly conservative.
  • Since 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Labor has required that car salesmen are entitled to overtime pay even when they receive salary and commissions, and that sales commissions do not count toward overtime.
  • That law contributed to a whopping judgment in Moreno’s case, with a jury finding him liable for withholding wages from both employees in the suit in 2022, forcing him to pay $416,160 in damages. (Moreno eventually settled at least a dozen additional wage-theft cases for undisclosed amounts.)
  • During the proceedings, Moreno was also found by Ricciuti, the Republican-appointed judge, to have shredded company documents related to the case that Moreno and his lawyers “were required to preserve” and “knew or should have known [were] relevant.”
  • The plaintiffs’ argument was strengthened by a 2019 Massachusetts State Supreme Court ruling on a related case about sales staff and overtime wages. In that case, Sullivan vs. Sleepy’s, the court unanimously determined that sales staff were entitled to overtime wages.
  • But of the seven-judge state supreme court that unanimously upheld the wage regulation, five judges were appointed by then-Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican.
  • Moreno’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on why he has repeatedly stated that activist judges caused a jury to side against him for wage theft.

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