(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine today announced that an investigation into a Wright State University consultant’s possible status as a lobbyist did not find evidence of law violations. The investigation into Ron Wine and Ron Wine Consulting Group, which was requested by Ohio Legislative Inspector General Tony Bledsoe, was conducted by Ohio Attorney General’s Office attorneys and Bureau Criminal Investigation (BCI).
Pursuant to Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Section 101.79, the investigation focused on whether Wine should register as a lobbyist. The Joint Legislative Ethics Commission (JLEC) guidelines note that individuals who are paid to advocate their client’s interest before State officials must register as a lobbyist if that portion of their job exceeds five percent of the workload related to legislative lobbying or 25 percent of their workload for time spent lobbying the executive branch. After interviews with Wine and an examination of Wine’s calendar, phone records, and other documents, the investigation determined that the portion of Wine’s work which constituted advocacy of either kind was less than one percent.
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Documents
Prosecutor's Summary of Investigation (PDF)
Media Contacts
Dan Tierney: 614-466-3840
Lisa Hackley: 614-466-3840