COLUMBUS, Ohio — Financial disclosures show U.S. Sen. Jon Husted received gifts from JobsOhio during three consecutive years while serving as Ohio’s lieutenant governor, but neither Husted nor the powerful economic-development organization will disclose what the gifts were or how much they were worth.
Husted’s filings identify JobsOhio as a gift source in 2021, 2022 and 2023. His 2024 disclosure lists a gift from JobsOhio CEO J.P. Nauseef. Ohio law generally requires officials to identify the source of gifts worth more than $75, but not their exact nature or value.
That lack of detail matters because JobsOhio controls profits from Ohio’s state liquor franchise and has directed more than $2 billion toward private businesses. Husted’s office and JobsOhio declined to provide additional information about the gifts.
Ohio ethics rules prohibit public officials from accepting substantial things of value when the source has business before their agency or could improperly influence their official duties. The Ohio Ethics Commission has not concluded that Husted violated those rules, and its executive director said such a determination would require examining all the facts.
The disclosures are receiving additional attention because JobsOhio supported major projects during Husted’s tenure, including Intel’s heavily subsidized Ohio semiconductor development. Husted is currently running for a full Senate term against Democrat Sherrod Brown.
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