by Andy Chow
A state representative from Columbus is denying an alleged connection to a pay-to-play scheme during his time as state treasurer.
While sitting with a handful of reporters in his northeast Columbus home, former state treasurer Kevin Boyce adamantly denies being in a meeting where a company was told it had to donate to his campaign in order to win a state contract.
Those are the accusations made in a Securities and Exchange Commission report. The SEC fined a Boston-area financial services company for the role it played in a kickback scheme involving Boyce’ former deputy, Amer Ahmad.
“Had I been in that kind of meeting, not only would I have shut that down immediately, but Amer would’ve been fired. And it’s that simple,” Boyce said.
Boyce, who’s running for Franklin County commissioner, says the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office already ran an investigation and found nothing.