“Will conspiracy trial figure in Mandel’s election?”

Cincinnati Enquirer:

Scandal is again threatening the Ohio state treasurer’s office.

The case – unfolding this month in a Cleveland courtroom – involves a GOP donor, Northeast Ohio businessman Ben Suarez. He’s accused of conspiring to violate federal campaign laws by allegedly filtering $100,000 in donations to Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel – some of it just days after Mandel sent official state treasurer’s letters on Suarez’s behalf.

Although the Republican treasurer has not been charged, an assistant U.S. attorney stopped just short Wednesday of saying the donations represented a quid pro quo exchange – I’ll help you if you help me. That suggestion of political favors likely will feature prominently in Hamilton County Democrat Connie Pillich’s bid to unseat Mandel this November, although criminal quid pro quo charges are difficult to bring against a politician.

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