WASHINGTON — An Ohio Democrat maintained a lifelong friendship with a metal lobbyist — even giving her energy of lawyer — whereas additionally accepting marketing campaign donations from the lobbyist and her agency’s PAC over 20 years in Congress, based on photographs, information and the congresswoman’s workplace.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur‘s principal marketing campaign committee took practically $40,000 from the lobbyist, Eileen Bradner, and her agency’s PAC — and information filed within the metropolis of Alexandria, Va., additionally confirmed that Bradner was briefly listed as Kaptur’s attorney-in-fact when she was refinancing her rental in August 2010.
“This can be very weird for a Member of Congress to provide energy of lawyer to a significant DC lobbyist,” mentioned Caitlin Sutherland, government director for Individuals for Public Belief.
“Marcy Kaptur has been outspoken about ethics and transparency, but she engaged in a relationship that gave the looks of a possible battle of curiosity. This raises severe questions on whether or not this girl lobbied Kaptur’s workplace or obtained every other particular entry or profit whereas appearing as an agent for the congresswoman.”
Social media posts present that Bradner stored footage of Kaptur in her workplace earlier than retiring from lobbying, attended official political occasions and celebrated household moments.
Kaptur, 80, is working to serve a twenty third time period within the Home to signify Ohio’s Ninth Congressional District.
The seat is certainly one of simply 5 Democratic ones listed as a “toss-up” by the non-partisan Prepare dinner Political Report.
“Congresswoman Kaptur’s lengthy household friendship with Ms. Bradner and her now deceased mother and father goes again to their youth and household attendance at Little Flower Catholic Parish in Toledo, Ohio, the place the Congresswoman nonetheless attends church weekly,” mentioned Kaptur spokesman Ben Kamens.
“Their acquaintance and friendship lengthy predate the Congresswoman’s service within the Home, and Ms. Bradner and her daughter nonetheless go to Northwest Ohio usually,” he added.
“Ms. Bradner is an lawyer,” Kamens famous. “In 2010 when the Congresswoman was refinancing the rate of interest on her Washington space house, she was caring for a member of the family in Ohio and couldn’t return to finish paperwork in individual and the Credit score Union she makes use of instructed she have a POA signal the paperwork.
“On this frequent association, a chosen agent receives authorized authority to signal all mortgage and shutting paperwork on behalf of purchaser or vendor who can’t be current. Standing in as POA Energy of Legal professional (POA) doesn’t grant that individual any authorized advantages, possession rights, or fairness within the property, nor does it confer any legal responsibility for the monetary transaction. To recommend something in any other case wouldn’t comport with the reality, and can be deceitful,” Kamens mentioned.
Bradner served as a lobbyist for Wiley Rein LLP from 1998 to 2009 and from there, as senior director of federal authorities affairs at Nucor Company earlier than retiring in 2023. She donated $2,150 on to Kaptur’s campaigns between 2004 and 2018.
Nucor Company’s Political Motion Committee additionally contributed $38,400 between October 2008 and March 2026 to Kaptur’s marketing campaign. Bradner was Nucor’s high lobbyist from August 2009 to August 2023, based on her LinkedIn account.
On the identical time, Kaptur continuously voted in favor of laws for which Bradner was lobbying, together with the Emergency Metal Mortgage Assure and Emergency Oil and Gasoline Assured Mortgage Act of 1999, the Emergency Financial Stabilization Act of 2008 and, most not too long ago, the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act.
Greater than 30 votes or co-sponsorships of laws coincided with Bradner’s lobbying place over a roughly two-decade interval, based on a Publish overview of disclosures and Home votes.
The Ohio congresswoman in at the very least one occasion additionally voted towards a invoice, which handed with overwhelming bipartisan assist, that was opposed by Bradner.
The Pension Funding Fairness Act of 2004 was meant to guard metal staff’ pension plans. Lobbying disclosures the identical 12 months present Bradner opposed giving the “pension contribution bailout to a couple metal firms.”
Home guidelines bar lawmakers from accepting marketing campaign contributions in trade for official actions.
“Marcy Kaptur is a champion for US steelmaking and long-standing member of the Bipartisan Congressional Metal Caucus,” mentioned Kamens.
“Ms. Kaptur has celebrated the steelmaking successes of Northstar BlueScope Metal, Arcelor Mittal, US Metal, Cleveland Cliffs, and Republic Metal as resident industries within the District she represents.”
“Nucor, in the meantime, is the most important metal producer in america and makes the overwhelming majority of its metal domestically and Ms. Bradner’s work or positions with Nucor earlier than her retirement don’t make her political assist for Ms. Kaptur something untoward,” Kamens added.
“Actually, it’s much more possible that assist attracts from Ms. Bradner’s affinity for Northwest Ohio the place they have been each born and raised, and Ms. Kaptur’s work because the Consultant for the area.”
