While Desiree Tims, Democratic candidate in OH-10, is running a reform-focused campaign to fight for Ohioans in Congress, Congressman Mike Turner has spent over $71,000 of campaign contributions on personal expenses like luxurious hotels and restaurants since 2017. The use of campaign funds for personal expenses is a clear violation of FEC law and House Ethics rules. The Tims campaign subsequently filed complaints with both the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) against Turner for misusing campaign funds.
Below is a breakdown of some of the egregious expenses made by Mike Turner:
Meals and Entertainment:
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$697.62 at Lexington Hotel in New York, NY
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$1,745.31 at the Sea Fire Grill in New York, NY
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$208.11 at Le Bilboquet in New York, NY
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$426.27 at Duozo in Boston, MA
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$706.56 at the ClubCorp country club in Dallas, TX
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$343.80 at BLT Prime in Miami, FL
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$257.50 at Columbia Restaurant in Sarasota, FL
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$345.25 at Atlantic Grill West in New York, NY
Lodging:
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$1,162.50 at the Nautilus Hotel in Miami Beach, FL
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$396.80 at the Nemacolin Lodge in Farmington, PA
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$263.69 at the Ritz Carlton in Fernandina Beach, FL
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$836.61 at the Peninsula Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA
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$449.95 at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, NV
“Mike Turner is using his campaign coffers as his own personal piggy-bank,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “The misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses is expressly prohibited by FEC laws and ethics rules. These allegations beg another question: between all the extravagant trips and outings, when has Congressman Turner had time to work for the people of Ohio?”
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