DAY FOURTEEN: Frank LaRose Doesn’t Think The Rules Apply to Him
November 28, 2023
LaRose Still Refusing to Disclose Financial Information
Columbus, OH – Frank LaRose is now fourteen days past the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee’s deadline to file his personal financial disclosure – making it clear he doesn’t think the rules apply to him.
As Ohioans wait for LaRose to provide answers about self-funding $250,000 to his campaign despite mocking his opponents by claiming to be the only “thousandaire” in the race, here is a reminder of all the times LaRose has *already* proved he doesn’t think the rules apply to him:
- NOVEMBER 2023: LaRose moved his official office – for the first time in nearly two decades – to the same building as his campaign HQ, costing taxpayers $600,000. LaRose campaigned from the same building as his taxpayer-funded state offices – potentially violating Ohio Ethics code – and refused to provide answers on the move and his unethical behavior for weeks despite calls from media outlets, public records requests from Ohio taxpayers, and questions from Ohio lawmakers.
- AUGUST 2023: Despite his previous efforts to eliminate August elections because of low voter turnout and high costs, LaRose changed his mind and spearheaded the $18 million August special election – making a series of costly mistakes during the process, including sending counties the incorrect ballot language and election date.
- JULY 2023: After LaRose launched his Senate campaign, a Republican activist filed a federal elections complaint against LaRose for “illegally [running] a de-facto campaign for the U.S. Senate for months.”
- JULY 2023: LaRose’s close ties to August’s Issue 1 also led to a second ethics complaint for violating federal law.
- APRIL 2023: Earlier this year, the Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC.
What Ohioans are reading recently about LaRose believing the rules don’t apply to him:
- Ohio Capital Journal: “Despite that 90-day reprieve, LaRose has yet to file. The Ohio Capital Journal reached out to his campaign to see if the report has been filed but not yet posted or if the campaign has requested a further extension. The campaign did not respond…LaRose’s failure to file thus far is particularly notable given a $250,000 personal loan he made to his campaign in September.”
- Heartland Signal: “Candidates are required to publicly disclose their finances within 30 days of announcing their candidacy. LaRose announced his run for Senate on July 17 and subsequently asked for an extension on his filing on Aug 9. Despite an extra 90 days, LaRose again blew past his deadline on Nov. 14.”
- Ohio Capital Journal: “LaRose’s campaign didn’t respond to a request for more information about the source of his loan, but it seems like a substantial sum given his current state salary income.” [10/20/23]
- Tribune Chronicle: “I questioned how LaRose could come up with $250,000 out of his pocket for his Senate campaign. But Ben Kindel, his campaign spokesman, didn’t respond to my numerous inquiries.” [10/20/23]
- Cleveland.com: “Secretary of State Frank LaRose has gently mocked his wealthy opponents in March’s Republican Senate primary election by referring to himself as a humble ‘thousandaire.’ But the public will have to wait for details that could shed more light on LaRose’s financial situation, as a federal deadline for a mandatory financial disclosure passed Tuesday without a report from LaRose.
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