Three Indiana members of Congress gave and received money from Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci in what experts said may have been an improper straw donor scheme — including two Indiana congressmen running for the U.S. Senate.
The Senate candidates, Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, denied any wrongdoing. Rep. Jackie Walorski’s campaign did not respond to multiple phone calls and emails seeking comment.
The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Messer and Walorski received contributions from Renacci’s congressional campaign between April and June last year. Although he was not named in that story, Rokita also received campaign contributions from Renacci.
Within two months of receiving a donation, all three then contributed money to Renacci’s gubernatorial campaign. In Messer’s case, the contribution occurred just one day after his campaign received a donation from Renacci.