Redacted Check Memo Line Lands Aftab Pureval In Hot Water

Funds from Pureval's re-election campaign for Hamilton County Clerk were used to pay for polling for his run for Congress.

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - Ohio elections officials will launch an investigation into campaign spending by Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval. 

Pureval, a Democrat, is running in Ohio’s 1st congressional district this fall. He hopes to unseat incumbent Republican Steve Chabot.

At issue is whether Pureval used his county campaign funds on his race for federal office, which would violate campaign finance laws.

His attorney has admitted that a check for $16,427 was written from the county campaign fund to pay for polling related to his Clerk of Courts re-election campaign and his run for congress. However, the attorney insists everything was done by the book. 

An emergency meeting of the Hamilton County Board of Elections was held Wednesday on the matter. The Democratic deputy director of the board, Sally Krisel, admitted to redacting the memo line of the check. She could face disciplinary action by the party and election board.

Pureval said in a statement he did not know about the redaction on the check.

The Ohio Elections Commission wants to resolve the issue before the November election. The commission could find wrongdoing and issue a fine or refer the case for prosecution.