A Democratic congressional candidate for Ohio, recently endorsed by former President Barack Obama, drew scrutiny Thursday over possible misuse of campaign funds.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the campaign finance filings seemed to indicate that Aftab Pureval, Hamilton County’s Clerk of Courts, relied on his clerk of courts campaign account to fund some expenses incurred in his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Pureval spent $30,000 from his clerk campaign coffers between January and June 2018, despite not facing re-election for that county-based role until 2020, according to filings obtained by the Enquirer. This could be a problem for Pureval in the race because it is against campaign finance laws to mix money raised for federal and non-federal contests, per the Federal Election Commission.
The Cincinnati Enquirer cited a payment of $360 made by Pureval’s clerk campaign account to photographer Mark Byron on Feb. 5 as a possible discrepancy, given Byron took photos of Pureval’s federal campaign launch event on Jan. 31, but was apparently not paid through congressional campaign funds.
The newspaper also found that Aftab Pureval’s mother, Drenko Pureval, made the maximum contribution of $5,400 to his federal campaign on Feb. 1, the same day she made a $15,000 donation to his clerk account. This was followed by another $15,000 on Apr. 11, permitted as there are no fundraising limits placed on county elections.
In addition, reporters identified transactions between Pureval’s clerk coffers and a Washington-based Democratic polling firm he never used in his previous county race, as well as to Brianna Ledsome, who according to social media accounts, works for Pureval’s congressional campaign.
Pureval’s campaign manager, Sarah Topy, denied any wrongdoing to the Enquirer.
Pureval is set to face Republican incumbent Steve Chabot on Nov. 6.
