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FBI investigation: Ohio speaker had private tours, stayed in 5-star hotel in London

Corporate sponsors – often lobbyists, on behalf of the firms they work for – helped fund the trip through payments of $25,000 each
Ohio Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, shown in a Facebook posting by lobbyist Leslie Gaines on a trip to London in August 2017 that he didn't pay for from his state salary. (Photo: The Enquirer / Chrissie Thompson)

When the recently resigned speaker of the Ohio House visited London last year, he stayed for free in a five-star hotel and had a private tour of the World War II-era war rooms used by the late British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

He also arranged a visit to the set of Disney's "Aladdin," records show, but a spokesman said he did not make it to the set.

Former House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, a Clinton County Republican, resigned last week after news broke that the FBI was investigating his lavish lifestyle, including his international travel. One trip that is of interest: Rosenberger's August trip to London, where he spent time with lobbyists from the title-lending industry, which is trying to stall a legislative effort to regulate them.

The trip was paid for by the conservative GOPAC Education Fund's Institute for Leadership Development, not out of Rosenberger's $100,798 salary.

Corporate sponsors – often lobbyists, on behalf of the firms they work for – helped fund the trip through payments of $25,000 each, Ohio House records released to The Enquirer show.

That sum allowed lobbyists to attend the institute, rubbing shoulders with six top legislative leaders, including Rosenberger. For instance, Ohio lobbyist Steve Dimon and South Carolina lobbyist Leslie Gaines are shown in Facebook photos from the trip. Both lobby for the parent of title lender LoanMax.

The travelers' home base for the trip was the five-star Conrad London St. James hotel, according to emails and schedules related to the visit.

On the trip, the group toured the Houses of Parliament; had dinner with two Parliament members and lunch with Churchill's granddaughter; rode the London Eye, an enclosed, super-sized Ferris wheel with views of the city; and took a bus tour of London, complete with champagne.

During the trip's free time for sightseeing, Rosenberger arranged for a visit to the set of Disney's "Aladdin," an upcoming live-action version that filmed outside of London. Other emails indicate Disney staff was trying to line up a visit to the set of "Star Wars" while Rosenberger was in London.

In the end, House GOP spokesman Brad Miller said, neither set visit took place.

Rosenberger did not respond to a request for comment.

As speaker, he was allowed to travel for his job, and he was allowed to accept scholarships for those trips from an outside group, as he did when he visited London. But he had to follow guidelines, such as disclosing who paid for the travel, and he could not accept gifts worth more than $75 from an individual donor or lobbyist.

There were other rules. The trip had to be related to his job, not purely for fun. He couldn't accept the gift of a trip in exchange for a legislative favor.

The London junket included another Ohio House member: Rep. Nathan Manning, R-North Ridgeville, who traveled as a guest of Rosenberger. Manning told The Enquirer he paid for his airfare personally and allowed GOPAC to pay for the rest of the trip, which he disclosed on state forms.

Before visiting London, Rosenberger and Wisconsin Speaker Robin Vos were in Iceland, the records show. They arrived in London together and shared a private vehicle from the airport to the Conrad, paid for by GOPAC.

The purpose of the trip to London was to "educate participants on U.S./U.K. trade opportunities, foster the exchange of ideas with Members of Parliament and facilitate the study of former British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher," according to a GOPAC advertisement for the trip.

The title-lending lobbyists' participation on the trip coincided with lack of action in the Ohio House on a bill that would restrict title and payday lenders. After news broke two weeks ago of the FBI investigation, House leaders pushed to pass the bill. It advanced this week out of an Ohio House committee.

Correction: A headline on a previous story indicating Rosenberger had visited a Disney movie set while he was in London. He arranged the visit, but did not make it to the set, a spokesman later said.

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