IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Jim Renacci fined for delayed campaign reports
We’re sensing a pattern here…Republican Congressman Jim Renacci just got slapped with a $5,000 fine for failing to report more than $30,000 in campaign donations.
This isn’t the first time Renacci has been caught violating federal election law– most recently he failed to disclose the fact that he gave his campaign nearly $100,000 from his own pocket. In 2006, Renacci was required by the state of Ohio to pay $1.4 million in back taxes and interest.
Renacci also continued to lobby while running for Congress – giving more than $44,000 to campaigns– and failing to report it.
“Congressman Renacci appears to be making a pattern of keeping his finances secret from voters,” said DCCC Communications Director Matt Thornton. “Ohioans simply aren’t going to put up with a Washington politician who does everything he can to hide his campaign finances from the public.”
Background:
2015: Headline: “Rep. Jim Renacci Fined For Delayed Campaign Reports.” “The Federal Election Commission has ordered Rep. Jim Renacci’s re-election campaign to pay a $5,425 fine for failing to promptly report several donations it got last year … Renacci’s campaign didn’t do that for 22 donations it got last year that totaled $33,500, FEC says.” [Plain Dealer, 5/26/15]
2014: Headline: “Rep. Jim Renacci’s Campaign Is Fined $9,749 By The Federal Election Commission.” “The Federal Election Commission announced Friday that it fined Rep. Jim Renacci’s re-election campaign $9,749 for failing to promptly disclose a contribution of nearly $100,000 the candidate made to his campaign in 2012…Renacci’s campaign argued it should not be fined because the transaction was merely a book-keeping mechanism that did not reflect a new influx of money. It said the committee engaged in debt retirement fundraising earlier that year to repay loans Renacci made to his 2010 campaign. He repaid some of the old loan, and then loaned his committee “the exact same amount for use in the 2012 election,” the campaign told the FEC.” [Plain Dealer, 2/17/14]
2008-2009: Renacci Failed To Disclose Political Contributions When He Was A Foreign Trade Lobbyist. Renacci was a registered lobbyist with Smokerise International Group, Ltd, a legislative affairs consulting firm from 2008-2011. During that time he failed to file semi-annual lobbying disclosure forms in 2008 and 2009. He also listed no political contributions on his lobbying contribution reports. However, during the time he was a registered lobbyist, Renacci gave $44,325 in contributions. From 2009-2010, Renacci continued to file lobbying contribution forms, which stated he was a lobbyist with Smokerise International Group, while running for Congress. [Renacci Lobbying Registration, 5/20/08, Renacci Lobbying Termination, 7/19/12; FEC.gov; Smokerise Quarterly Reports 2008-2011; Real Renacci Ad]
2006: Renacci Hid $13 Million In Income And Was Forced To Pay Almost $1.4 Million In Back Taxes And Penalties. “[In 2000], the Ohio Department of Taxation accused Renacci and his wife, Tina, of misreporting their income. The couple filed state tax returns that year that claimed they had a loss of $247,336, but auditors determined they actually made $13,730,440 … the state dinged them for $954,650 in back taxes, $146,938 in interest and $293,876 in penalties.” [Plain Dealer, 10/19/12]