![State Rep. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) [Ohio House]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/15a422f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4928x3280+0+0/resize/840x560!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fimages%2Fnews%2Fnpr%2F2020%2F08%2F906529727_38770452.jpg)
Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R-Ohio) has referred state Rep. Nino Vitale (R-Urbana) to the Ohio Elections Commission based on several potential campaign finance issues.
Among the issues is a claim that Vitale mixed funds from personal or business accounts with his campaign account. In the referral, LaRose alleges Vitale turned in a blank campaign finance report a day after the deadline and that Vitale directs studentsto pay for his concealed carry class through his campaign website.
There are six claims in the referral, which include alleged discrepancies in reporting online campaign contributions.
"I swore an oath to uphold the law, so when I see an apparent violation of our state’s campaign finance statutes, I am duty bound to refer it to the Ohio Elections Commission. All public officials must be held accountable," LaRose said in a written statement.
Vitale has been a vocal critic of Gov. Mike DeWine's (R-Ohio) response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is among the four House Republicans who are leading the charge in seeking DeWine's impeachment.
Vitale could not be reached for comment.
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