Ohio Democrats Thursday called for watchdog groups to begin an investigation into whether Republicans broke the law when they used a hotel room paid for by taxpayer dollars.
At a press conference Thursday, Democrats said that Republicans intentionally hid the hotel room from them and used it to secretly draw up redistricting plans, 10 Investigates’ Paul Aker said.
State Republican lawmakers said on Thursday that they did not use the hotel room records show they called the “bunker” for redistricting planning.
According to a report by Ohio Citizen Action along with the League of Women Voters, republicans allegedly paid $9,614 for a room they called “the bunker” at downtown Columbus’ Doubletree Suites that became the headquarters for the republicans’ efforts to reshape Ohio’s election districts.
During the investigation, the group found thousands of documents including the invoice for the ho-tel allegedly sent to state government.
The investigation also found evidence that U.S. House Speaker John Boehner allegedly was in-volved with the process and that the group was paying a consultant and Republican staffer who quit her job.
The two allegedly were paid a total of $210,000 for 14 weeks of work; the report says the staffer was rehired at the statehouse following the project.
“What we do know is they wanted to keep this as much as possible out of the public eye,” Catherine Turcer of Ohio Citizen Action said. “If they're not public employees, it's easier to keep it out of the public eye.”
According to the report, the state paid the consultant and former staff each $105,000 for about 14 weeks work of work.
After the work was done, the staffer was rehired at the state house, Aker re-ported.
Republicans sent 10 Investigates a statement Thursday that said they have been fair and bipartisan in the redistricting process.
They called Thursday’s press conference “theatrics,” Aker reported.
Democratic state Sen. Nina Turner of Cleveland said on Wednesday that she wants an investigation.
“The Inspector General should get involved to see if there is any wrongdoing to see if there was expenditure of taxpayer dollars that was wrong. And I hope the voters are outraged,” Turner said.
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Democrats Call For Investigation Into Alleged Republican Redistricting ‘Bunker’
State Democrats want further investigation into whether Republicans broke the law when drawing up new state election districts. Get the story.