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Ohio Candidate for Governor Discloses Speaking Fee From Pro-Syrian Group

Following an inquiry from the Ohio Ethics Commission, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich has disclosed he was paid $20,000 for giving a speech last year to a group sympathetic to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

By Marty Schladen and Randy Ludlow

Following an inquiry from the Ohio Ethics Commission, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Dennis Kucinich has disclosed he was paid $20,000 for giving a speech last year to a group sympathetic to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Paul Nick, executive director of the ethics commission, wrote Kucinich on Friday asking him to correct his "incomplete" filing by identifying the person or entity who paid him for what he listed as "paid speeches" on his financial disclosure form.

Kucinich, a U.S. House member from 1997 to 2013 and former Cleveland mayor, responded on Tuesday by listing three speaking fees totaling $33,000, including $20,000 from the Association for Investment in Popular Action Committees, of El Cerrito, California.

The group is listed in federal records as holding the trademark to the Syria Solidarity Movement, which opposes "imperial interests" intervening in the Syrian civil war. As both a congressman, and again last year, Kucinich visited Syria to meet with its president, attracting criticism in some circles. Kucinich says he supports efforts to bring peace to the war-torn nation.

Comment was being sought from the Kucinich campaign, which put out a release calling the U.S. missile attack last week "a violation of international law."

On the campaign the subjects of Syria and Russia have proven inconvenient for Kucinich. He's been repeatedly refused to condemn Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad, who again stands accused of using chemical weapons against his own people. And he's had to defend statements on Fox News saying the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election is an attempt by the "deep state" to undermine President Donald Trump.

The Syrian Solidarity Movement appears to subscribe to both those views, no matter controversial.

A prominent post on its website Tuesday attacked the American Herald-Tribune's coverage of the Syrian civil war.

"Corporate media propaganda against Syria is an avalanche that never seems to end. Government policy and media policy are now melded into a single policy of support for 'the opposition' and unceasing hostility towards 'the regime' and all those who have come to its aid, especially Russia," it said.

"The hysteria in the US over alleged and completely unproven Russian interference in the US elections is now reaching the point of open confrontation with Russia. Britain has climbed aboard with its alleged and unproven accusation of official Russian involvement in the nerve weapon poisoning of a washed-up former spy, whom Russia could have no conceivable interest in eliminating."

Kucinich also is an honorary board member of the Ron Paul Institute, which also repeatedly questioned the Russia probe. Kucinich says he receives no compensation and plays no role in the institute's management or operations.

Kucinich also reported he received a $10,000 speaking fee from Nexus Earth and $3,000 from author Marianne D. Williamson, who spoke at a recent Kasich fundraiser.

(c)2018 The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio)

Caroline Cournoyer is GOVERNING's senior web editor.
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