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WKYC: “We can verify that Moreno’s claims are false”

Columbus, OH – A new WKYC “Verify” report today found that Bernie Moreno’s defense for refusing to pay his employees the overtime wages they had earned are “false” and that Moreno was “required to pay for overtime worked” beginning in 2015. 

After reporting found Moreno destroyed evidence while facing lawsuits for withholding his employees’ wages, Moreno falsely claimed a 2019 Massachusetts court decision “retroactively” required him to pay his employees overtime. Moreno has also blamed “liberal,” “activist,” “lunatic” judges for losing the jury trial in the case which separate reports found “isn’t true.” 

WATCH FROM WKYC: “We can verify that Moreno’s claims are false”

Stephanie Haney, WKYC: “… Nothing new and unexpected was retroactively required of employers in either court’s verdict. Once the 2015 regulation went into effect, employers were required to pay for overtime worked… Moreno was ultimately ordered to pay more than $400,000 to his former employees after having been found liable for stolen overtime wages, and went on to settle more than a dozen similar lawsuits before announcing his candidacy for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat.”

SEE ALSO: WATCH: Bernie Moreno Faces Scrutiny For Destroying Evidence To Get Out Of Paying His Employees Overtime; 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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Moreno Opposed “Most Conservative Border Bill In Decades,” Backed By Border Patrol Agents

Columbus, OH – After Bernie Moreno opposed “the most conservative border bill in decades” – despite the bill being backed by border patrol agents – Ohioans are seeing that Moreno is “not a serious person” who would rather talk tough than do what is right for Ohioans. 

What Ohioans are reading about Moreno’s opposition to “the most conservative border bill in decades” backed by border patrol agents:

Politico: “…Republican Senate candidates, from Kari Lake in Arizona to Bernie Moreno in Ohio, came out against it. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), who chairs the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm, said ‘This will hurt them on election night.’”

WCMH: “Moreno drew criticism from the Ohio Democratic Party on border security. First, an ad targeted Moreno for not supporting the bipartisan border security bill that was blocked by Senate Republicans. Then, a mobile billboard in Dayton used similar language.”

Cleveland.com: “The Ohio Democratic Party also launched a web ad this week calling attention to Moreno’s opposition to the recent Senate bipartisan border security legislation…”

Punchbowl News: “The Ohio Democratic Party is running a new digital ad hitting GOP Senate frontrunner Bernie Moreno for his opposition to the now-dead bipartisan border bill. Moreno, like many Republicans nationwide, came out against the bill negotiated by Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.).”

Ohio Capital Journal: “The U.S. Senate is bringing forward this week the biggest bipartisan immigration deal and border crackdown this country has seen since Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill, and Bernie Moreno…called it an ‘abomination’ before the details of the deal were even released. This is not a serious person.”

HuffPost: “Bernie Moreno, a businessman and Trump-backed candidate for Senate in Ohio, told voters in Vermillion on Jan. 13 that the bill was an ‘abomination.’”

SEE ALSO: Mobile Billboard Highlights Moreno’s Opposition to Border Security Bill, 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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Columbus, OH – Today, the Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement in response to the indictments announced related to the $60 million bribery scandal. 

“For four years, Ohioans have waited for state officials to hold anyone accountable in the largest public corruption scandal in state history. Today’s announcement is long overdue. But just because Dave Yost wants to act tough now, make no mistake: he and his fellow statewide Republicans with higher political ambitions have deep ties to this bribery scheme. And Ohioans still deserve answers from Dave Yost, Jon Husted and many other Ohio Republicans on their involvement in this historic scandal,” said Matt Keyes, Ohio Democratic Party spokesperson.

At the federal trial on the bribery scandal, Matt Borges – who was convicted in the scandal – was quoted as saying that Yost believed the bailout was a bad law but wanted to help FirstEnergy. Borges added about Yost: “If there’s any way the law will allow him to reject the language, he will do it.”

Borges, sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in the scandal, served as a campaign manager for Yost, and Yost took $10k from Borges before he eventually caved to public pressure to give it back. Yost once said, “It would be foolish for anyone to accept campaign contributions from these defendants.” Yost also received a subpoena to testify in the trial.

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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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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.” 

• Wall Street Journal Editorial Board: “By any honest reckoning, this is the most restrictive migrant legislation in decades.”

• 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”

• Republican Senator James Lankford: “It will be, by far, the most conservative border security bill in four decades.”

• Republican Senator Lindsey Graham: “So to my Republican colleagues, this is a historic moment to reform the border.”

• 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” 

• CBS News’ Camilo Montoya-Galvez: Bipartisan border package “would be one of the toughest border and immigration laws in modern history”

• Washington Post’s Leigh Ann Caldwell: Bipartisan border package “the most conservative border bill in decades”

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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