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LISBON -- A civil lawsuit filed by other Republicans naming local County Republican Chairman David Johnson, continues to go through the court process and at this point is not scheduled to be resolved until after the general election in November.
The civil lawsuit filed by five Republicans in Franklin County Common Pleas Court names, Robert A. Paduchick, chairman of the Ohio Republican Central Committee; Johnson, as treasurer of the Ohio Republican Party; and the Ohio Republican Party itself.
Although several allegations are made in the lawsuit, a prominent assertion is that the Ohio Republican Party gave money to unendorsed candidates, including $500,000 to Governor Mike DeWine in July of 2021.
The lawsuit then claims more than $3 million is missing, including $1.7 million unaccounted for in 2017, and when the Republicans who are now filing the lawsuit questioned the expenditures to unendorsed candidates, the chairman removed them from their seats on standing committees, including fiscal oversight committees involving how money was being spent. The lawsuit continues that reorganization of the committees should have waited according to the bylaws until after the 2022 primary election.
The parts of the lawsuit regarding Johnson claim among other things that he failed to sign off on the finances of the party as required by the bylaws, maintained unauditable books and records, managed a set of books in a way that was unreconciled and was unable to account for the money. According to the lawsuit, the books have not been audited since 2017.
Additionally, the lawsuit claims Johnson cost the Ohio Republican Party fines through the Federal Election Commission for the improper reporting of $100,000.
The lawsuit was filed by attorney Scott A. Pullins on behalf of Republican members Laura Rosenberger, Springfield; JoAnn Campbell, Medina; Mark Bainbridge, Columbus; Joe Miller, Cleveland Heights; and Denise Verdi, Timberlake. Additionally, it lists all the donors and members of the Ohio Republican Party as a plaintiff in the case.
Johnson contends it is an internal argument and the allegations have "absolutely no merit."
According to Johnson every dollar that comes to the Columbiana County Republican Party and every dollar spent is recorded and reported to the Ohio Secretary of State. Additionally, he said things are handled similarly on the state level. He said the only accounting error was an invoice that was recorded in the wrong column, listing the money as a liability instead of an asset. Additionally he said the Ohio Republican Party has hired an independent audit company and nothing was improper.
"These are absolutely coreless, baseless allegations that have absolutely no merit," Johnson said. "I will be completely vindicated."
Both the attorneys for the Ohio Republican Party and the plaintiff's have filed lengthy briefs in March laying out their sides with the Ohio Republican Party requesting the lawsuit be dismissed and the plaintiffs further clarifying their concerns.
The civil lawsuit is scheduled for both sides to begin disclosing witnesses and providing reports from experts this spring. Other motions are due this summer, however the final trial assignment date is not until Nov. 29, well after the election.
Prior to that date, Johnson is running to hold onto his seat on the Ohio Republican Central Committee in the upcoming election. He is challenged by Rick Barron of Youngstown in the primary.