Renacci claims to return contributions in letter to Sutton
PARMA HEIGHTS, OH - After weeks of pressure from Betty Sutton has finally forced Congressman Jim Renacci to return over $100,000 in campaign contributions under FBI investigation from Suarez Corporation employees, questions remain about what Renacci knew about the questionable contributions and why he decided to wait over two months since Sutton first called on him to return the potentially illegal funds.
"Every day, Ohioans work hard and play by the rules, and they expect their representatives in Washington to do the same," said Sutton. "While some of Renacci's largest contributions are under FBI investigation, Jim Renacci has lied and he has hid the truth about what he knew about these suspect donations, and why he refused to return them. He owes the voters of this district an explanation, and I look forward to hearing all of the facts because voters deserve to know the truth about these shady campaign practices."
The questions Ohio voters deserve the answers to include:
1) When did Jim Renacci first learn about the FBI investigation of Suarez donors?
2) Did Jim Renacci ask Suarez company executives, including Mr. Suarez, to ask Suarez employees for campaign contributions?
3) Why did Jim Renacci wait until now to return the donations after knowing about the FBI investigation for several months?
Word of an FBI investigation of donations by employees of the Suarez Company came in May, when information was disclosed that major donations were made by, "employees had never given to federal campaigns before, lived in modest homes, and held job titles such as "copywriter." [Toledo Blade, May 21, 2012].
A longtime leader on improving ethics and transparency in government, Sutton helped sponsor and led the floor fight to pass legislation creating an Office of Congressional Ethics within the House.
