Hillary Clinton-endorsed Candidate Shontel Brown Faces Potential Ethics Probe
Wth a week to go before the special primary election for Ohio's 11th Congressional District, Democratic candidate Shontel Brown may be in hot water.
In April, The Intercept reported that Brown, a Cuyahoga County Councilmember, had voted to award millions worth of contracts to companies connected to her romantic partner and campaign donors. Emails reviewed by The Daily Poster show that the Ohio state auditor's office reviewed the allegations in the article and recently referred the matter to the state ethics commission.
Under Ohio law, public officials are prohibited from knowingly authorizing or using their authority or influence "to secure authorization of any public contract in which the public official, a member of the public official's family, or any of the public official's business associates has an interest." Violation of the statute is a felony, and penalties can include prison time.
In recent weeks, Brown's campaign and her efforts to paint Turner as a bad Democrat have benefited from high-profile endorsements from the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-S.C.
Brown has also seen strong support from corporate lobbyists and outside groups, most prominently DMFI PAC, a pro-Israel super PAC whose biggest donor is an oil and gas executive and an heir to a massive fossil fuel fortune.
The corporate think tank Third Way, which recently endorsed legislation encouraging more states to cut federal pandemic-related unemployment benefits, entered the Cleveland race last week, dropping $250,000 on digital ads opposing Turner.
In addition, several outside groups have come to Brown's aid, after polling revealed in early June that Turner was the overwhelming favorite to win the primary. Amid the anti-Turner onslaught by the Democratic establishment, Brown's campaign released survey numbers last week showing her up 26 points since April and within striking distance of Turner.
Brown has even received assistance from Donald Trump ally Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots.
Brown, who had pledged to recuse herself "as necessary" from contracts involving her partner, Mark Perkins, had used her position as Cuyahoga County Commissioner to help steer $17 million in contracts to Perk. Perk was founded with Perkins' uncle but is now owned by the Cifani family, who have long-established business ties to the Perkins family and who have supported Brown's campaigns for office.