Since 2013, FEC officials have sent Chabot 21 letters flagging campaign finance irregularities
Late Wednesday, Steve Chabot’s beleaguered campaign suffered another blow as another controversy emerged from his plodding and half-hearted reelection effort.
Federal authorities are investigating Chabot’s campaign for the discrepancy of an unreported $123,625.72 on Chabot’s campaign finance filings. Chabot’s lawyers appeared to quickly pin blame on Chabot loyalist Jim Schwartz, describing him merely as a nameless “campaign treasurer.”
But that vastly undersells Schwartz’s importance in Chabot’s orbit. A longtime Chabot aide, Schwartz and his son have served as Chabot’s campaign treasurer, deputy chief of staff, spokesman, campaign manager and finance director. To this point, Chabot has steered more than $2 million to the Schwartzes’ Cincinnati-based companies: Prime Media and Fountain Square Group.
So, don’t forget what Steve Chabot’s own campaign said just last year about how claims of malfeasance reflect on political candidates: “By not holding anyone accountable throughout this campaign, [he] created a culture in which illegal activity is condoned, if not encouraged.”
It’s the latest example of curious campaign finance issues for Chabot, who’s raised eyebrows for his habit of questionable spending over the years.
- There was the time Chabot kicked nearly $200,000 in campaign cash to his son-in-law’s business, enriching his family.
- And Chabot spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars traveling the globe, taking more than 80 government-funded trips costing taxpayers more than $300,000.
Meanwhile, Chabot hasn’t yet responded to the FEC’s inquiry.
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