COLUMBUS - Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine revealed today that Democrat attorney general candidate Richard Cordray is failing to abide by his own campaign ethics pledge by refusing to return more than $20,000.00 in scandal-tainted contributions.
Cordray's campaign claims the funds, donated by two prominent Cuyahoga County Democrats now under federal investigation, were received for "a different race and a different election cycle." ("Did Cordray take 'dirty' money?" The Columbus Dispatch, 8/13/08) But Cordray carried nearly a half-million dollars from the previous election cycle into his current campaign for attorney general, and the contributions likely will be used by Cordray in his attorney general campaign.
"These tainted contributions are still sitting in Richard Cordray's campaign account and he has every intention of spending the dirty money on his race for attorney general," said DeWine.
Cordray's campaign manager responded Wednesday, saying, "We haven't accepted any money from Frank Russo or Jimmy Dimora since the criminal investigation became public." (Politicker, 8/13/08)
"Is that now the standard? The criminal investigation has to become public in order for Richard Cordray to return his dirty money?" DeWine asked. "The Plain Dealer reported this week that the investigation likely began 'long ago' and quite possibly was underway at the same time Cordray received these funds."
Cordray's refusal to return the contributions connected to corruption in Cuyahoga County runs contrary to his own rhetoric on ethical fundraising:
- During Cordray's failed 1998 campaign for attorney general, he challenged his opponent to an "Ethics First Pledge," vowing to put "ethics before fundraising" and claiming that "Ohio's attorney must be committed to the highest standards of ethical behavior." (Cordray Campaign Release, 4/21/98)
- Cordray even vowed to "not accept contributions from those under criminal investigation." (Issue Statements, http://www.smartvoter.org, 11/3/98)
- Cordray also called on his opponent to return thousands of dollars in contributions from an executive at PIE Mutual Insurance Company, which was under state investigation at the time. (Letter to Betty Montgomery, 4/2/98)
"Richard Cordray promised to put ethics before fundraising and to refuse donations from anyone under criminal investigation, but he's failing to abide by his own campaign ethics pledge," DeWine added. "Just like a career politician, he apparently has one standard for himself and another for everyone else. He's starting to sound a lot like his friend Marc Dann."
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