Federal authorities have closed a six-year federal criminal investigation into the former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives and will not file charges against him, according to multiple reports.
Kenneth Parker, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, said the closure of a federal investigation into former Wilmington Republican Rep. Cliff Rosenberger’s travel and spending practices while in office was due to “highly unusual facts and circumstances,” according to the Associated Press. report Tuesday. No further explanation was given, the report said.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am to all of my family and friends who have supported me over the past six years,” Rosenberger was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. “I am so happy to finally be exonerated.”
Rosenberger resigned as speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives on April 12, 2018. The allegations came after federal investigators began examining his travel records and expenses for evidence of bribes from lobbyists for the payday loan industry, Cleveland.com reported. reportInvestigators then searched Rosenberger’s home and his House office in Columbus, according to the report.
Rosenberger, through his lawyer, David Axelrod, has pleaded not guilty. (Related article: Watchdog group calls for investigation into foreign billionaires’ spending on U.S. politics)
As the federal government wraps up its years-long investigation into former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, the Clarksville Republican’s portrait hangs outside the House chamber. pic.twitter.com/CoXXY9kLcp
— Darrel Rowland (@darreldrowland) May 28, 2024
A bill to regulate the Ohio payday loan industry was pending during Governor Rosenberger’s term in office, but was passed just weeks after his sudden resignation. The FBI had reportedly opened an investigation into Rosenberger’s alleged ties to the industry and had sought documents related to the bill.
The outlet also reported that in August 2017, Rosenberger visited London with Carol Stewart, an executive at short-term lender Advance America, and Steven Dimon and Leslie Gaines, lobbyists for auto lender Select Management Resources (SMR). SMR’s CEO Rod Aycox, his wife and other family members in Georgia donated $87,500 to Republican candidates in Wisconsin between 2008 and 2018. according to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Wisconsin State Assembly Republican Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester also participated in the same trip, which was sponsored by the GOPAC Education Fund, a pro-Republican nonprofit, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Separate reportWisconsin ethics law generally prohibits lawmakers from accepting expensive gifts but does allow sponsorship for work travel. Wisconsin State Chairman.
Rosenberger, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since resigning, reemerged in 2021 after renouncing his Republican affiliation due to his ties to former President Donald Trump, Cleveland.com reported. reportRosenberger made another public appearance in early May for the unveiling of an official portrait honoring his position as former House speaker.
