LaRose Super PAC Being Run by Former Householder Operative
June 29, 2023
As ethics concerns surround LaRose’s shadow campaign, report shows close ties between LaRose and the largest corruption scandal in state history
On the same day Larry Householder will be sentenced in federal court, a new report is exposing Frank LaRose’s close ties to the largest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history – including new information that LaRose’s super PAC is being led by a former Householder operative.
Ohioans have slammed LaRose for his sketchy shadow campaign which continues to be dogged by ethics concerns. The Daily Beast found that LaRose had “possibly trigger[ed] campaign finance regulations” by admitting he was raising money into a super PAC this year.
“Frank LaRose owes Ohioans answers about his close ties to the largest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history,” said ODP spokesperson Reeves Oyster. “As more details come out about the shady dealings surrounding his shadow campaign for Ohio’s Senate seat, it’s becoming increasingly clear that LaRose is just another unethical, corrupt politician who will do and say anything to gain power.”
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Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Sec. of State Frank LaRose won’t discuss Householder connections
Marty Schladen
June 29, 2023
- LaRose’s name came up repeatedly earlier this year during Householder’s seven-week federal felony racketeering trial. In addition, a consultant working with a LaRose-aligned super PAC also worked with Householder’s campaign committee at the height of the massive bribery conspiracy.
- In addition to the questionable logic of LaRose’s claim that Issue 1 would protect Ohio from corruption like Householder’s is the fact that LaRose apparently didn’t raise any alarms during the former speaker’s 38-month racketeering conspiracy. In fact, some of the corrupt bailout’s central figures said they were in communication with LaRose during critical parts of it.
- “LaRose is expecting us to be publicly supportive of him,” Borges said, according to messages displayed during his and Householder’s trial. Borges explained that LaRose expected public calls to recuse himself from the Ohio Ballot Board, which had a say over the repeal election, “because of ‘conflicts.’ He [LaRose] can be our friend in this process, so let’s be prepared to speak for him.”
- And as repeal signatures were gathered, FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones texted John Kiani, the chairman of the FirstEnergy subsidiary that was to receive $1 billion of the bailout. Jones’ message indicated that — despite LaRose now saying everybody knew Householder was a crook — both he [LaRose] and Householder had been providing the FirstEnergy CEO with “private” information on the repeal effort.
- FirstEnergy, which signed a deferred-prosecution agreement over its involvement in the conspiracy, gave LaRose more than $25,000 during his 2018 race for secretary of state.
- LaRose’s office hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment on the secretary of state’s involvement in the Householder scandal. Nor did Andrea Martin.
- Her firm, ANM Consulting, is raising money for a super PAC, the Leadership for Ohio Fund, that is expected to support a likely bid by LaRose to unseat Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown next year. ANM Consulting in 2019 received $7,600 from Friends of Larry Householder, the now-convicted speaker’s political action committee.
- Martin’s firm last year also received $45,000 from Protect Ohio Values, a super PAC that supported Republican J.D. Vance’s U.S. Senate bid. The PAC is now the subject of a complaint to the Federal Election Commission that it illegally coordinated its activities with the Vance campaign during the 2022 election.
See also: Ohioans Slam LaRose for Sketchy Fundraising, “Campaigning Out of His Office;” Ohioan Calls Out Frank LaRose: “Stop the Sketchy Political Tactics;” Editorial Board Calls On LaRose to “Do Better” After His “Shadow Campaign” Raises Ethics Concerns; Ethics Concerns Surround Frank LaRose’s “Shadow Campaign” for Ohio’s Senate Seat; New Reporting Raises Ethical, Legal Questions For Frank LaRose