Republican Ohio Senate candidate Bernie Moreno accused a former intern of a “prank” after reports that his email account was linked to a profile on an adult site.
After a database and other available records leaked from the website Adult Friend Finder (AFF) were reviewed by The Associated Press. Newswire reported Someone with access to Moreno’s work email created an account on the website in 2008 seeking casual sexual encounters with men.
Moreno’s campaign provided The Hill with a statement from intern Dan Rich, who said he created the account as an “abandoned prank.” The campaign also provided a signed email from Bernie Moreno, a former vice president at the Moreno Companies, confirming that Rich was Moreno’s intern in November 2008 and had access to his emails.
“I am deeply ashamed that the prank I pulled on my friend and former boss Bernie Moreno nearly 20 years ago was aborted,” Ricci said in a statement.
The statement said he was “one of many individuals within the company” who had access to Moreno’s “public email account” at the Porsche dealership in Cleveland.
The profile was last accessed about six hours after it was created in 2008, according to the Associated Press. Rich’s statement said the park created an account but “was never executed” and that the move was “not intended to be malicious.”
Although it is signed by Rich, The Hill cannot independently verify Rich’s statement because it was provided by the Moreno campaign. According to the Associated Press, Rich did not respond to voicemails left at multiple phone numbers listed under his name.
Campaign finance records show Rich donated $6,599 to Moreno’s campaign in 2023, according to the Associated Press.
Moreno’s attorney, Charles Harder, said in a statement provided to The Hill that the account was created by an intern at Moreno Auto.
“Sixteen years ago, an intern at Moreno Auto created an account with AFF as a park, but quickly abandoned it the same day. We have a copy of a signed letter from the intern acknowledging this. Harder provided the AP with a copy of another signed letter from a former vice president of Moreno’s company confirming that the intern was employed at the time the account in question was created.” he said. said in a statement.
“The email address in question was not Bernie’s personal email address, but an email address posted on company websites and materials and maintained by staff. Multiple people, including this intern, had access to it. ,” the statement continued. “Bernie Moreno had no connection whatsoever to the AFF account. Metadata indicates that the AFF account was never used and that no correspondence or contacts were sent to or received from other AFF accounts. There were no photos or content uploaded. The AFF account didn’t exist for half a day 16 years ago.”
According to data reviewed by The Associated Press, a profile registered by bernie@clevelandprosche.com is listed with the username “nardo19672,” and the profile says, “Looking for a young man to have fun with while traveling.” It was written.
The newswire noted that Moreno once publicly supported LGBTQ rights, but is now a staunch opponent.
Moreno is backed by former President Trump in his campaign to unseat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
He is a wealthy business owner who has invested at least $3 million of his own money into his campaign. This campaign marks his second time running for the Ohio Senate. He suspended his last campaign in early 2022, but fellow Republican J.D. Vance ultimately won.
Ohio’s Republican primary will be held on March 19th, and Moreno will be competing against two other candidates. The state, once seen as a battleground state, has moved to the right and voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, making Brown’s seat vulnerable to Democrats looking to maintain their Senate majority this fall. in a position.
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