NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — The Office of Congressional Ethics is recommending a deeper look into Tennessee Congressman Rep. Andy Ogles' campaign finances after they came under scrutiny when he claimed to have personally loaned $320,000 to his campaign in 2022.
"The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Ogles because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Ogles’s campaign committee accepted excessive contributions reported as personal loans and contributions from the candidate," the ethics board wrote Thursday.
All of this follows a NewsChannel 5 investigation in November 2023 that raised questions about Ogles' claims of that personal loan during his first run for the 5th District Congressional seat. Ogles' personal financial disclosures did not reflect the ability to loan his campaign such a large amount.
In May 2024, Ogles amended his campaign financial reports, admitting that he had only loaned the campaign $20,000.
After the FBI executed a search warrant at his home, the Republican congressman amended his personal financial disclosures filed with the U.S. House of Representatives.
For the first time in disclosures submitted in the fall, Ogles acknowledged the $700,000 line of credit discovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates. Property records show the loan with FirstBank was taken out in 2022 with the Maury County Republican's in-laws co-signing.
In addition, Ogles disclosed a bank account with First Horizon Bank with assets in a broad category of $50,001-$100,000.
"The Board recommends that the Committee further review the above allegation concerning Rep. Ogles because there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Ogles omitted or misrepresented required information in his financial disclosure statements or FEC candidate committee reports," the ethics board wrote.
You can read the full report by tapping here.
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Do you have more information about this story? You can email newsroom@newschannel5.com.
My friend and colleague Carrie Sharp had a lot of fun last week, on an adventure to a country more than three thousand miles away! She’s back now – sharing her Adventures in Iceland through stories, and incredible images of this remarkably beautiful and unique island nation (kudos to Chief Photographer Catherine Steward)! But did you know Nashville has something very important in common with Iceland? Tourism! Here, Carrie explains how a volcanic eruption decades ago helped save the country’s economy from collapse!
-Rhori Johnston
