NewsNewsChannel 5 InvestigatesRevealed 2023

Actions

REVEALED: Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles didn't want you to see his college transcript! We got it anyway

Transcript shows self-proclaimed economist took only one community college Economics course, which he barely passed -- and did not major in International Relations, as claimed
Posted
and last updated
Andy Ogles college transcript.jpeg

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — What was in Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles' college transcript that he didn't want you to see?

NewsChannel 5 Investigates now has the answer.

Among the findings: the freshman Republican is a self-proclaimed economist who, it turns out, only took one community college Economics course, which he barely passed. And it reveals that he still hasn't been telling the truth about his college degree.

"What it shows is the level of deception that he is willing to participate in in order to get elected to the United States Congress — and that's disturbing," said Randy Stamps, former political director for the Tennessee Republican Party and a former GOP legislator.

NewsChannel 5's investigation of Andy Ogles' embellishments about his resume recently went national, including his repeated claims as a candidate and as a new member of Congress to be a trained economist.

Andy Ogles Rally Photo.jpg
Andy Ogles speaks at campaign event

His congressional bio says Ogles graduated from Middle Tennessee State University, "where he studied policy and economics."

Yet, our investigation dug up a 2009 resume where he listed a degree in International Relations — not Economics — minoring in Psychology and English.

Going on Nashville talk radio for damage control, Ogles — who was one of the 20 House holdouts in Kevin McCarthy's speaker election — insisted economics was part of his International Relations degree at MTSU.

But Ogles claimed he put a block on the university confirming his academic credentials because he was worried about his identity being stolen.

"I would encourage anyone to lock down your transcripts, lock down your credit, so you're not a victim of identity theft," Ogles told WWTN host Dan Mandis.

But now NewsChannel 5 Investigates has uncovered what Congressman Ogles didn't want you to see: his college transcript.

William Andrew Ogles college transcripts Watermarked_Page_1.jpg
Page 1 of Andy Ogles' college transcript

That transcript, submitted by Ogles with a job application more than a decade ago, shows his major wasn't in economics nor international relations, but in Liberal Studies -- a type of degree generally for those who can't settle on a major.

And contrary to Ogles' claims, the transcript shows he enrolled in just one economics class — a community college Principles of Economics course — where he got a "C."

He was also forced to take developmental-level Intermediate Algebra — essentially the high school course — where he got a "B," then he was allowed to enroll in College Algebra.

The grade there: also a "C."

"Taking one course when you are a freshman or sophomore in college does not make you an economist," Stamps said. "And if he is willing to run around and say, 'hey, I'm an economist,' who knows what else he is going to tell you that is not true."

Last fall, Stamps broke with his party, supporting Ogles' Democratic opponent, state Sen. Heidi Campbell.

"Even before the election, I didn't believe anything he said," Stamps said.

NewsChannel 5 Investigates asked the former Republican lawmaker, "Does this reflect why you endorsed his Democratic opponent?"

"Absolutely," he answered. "With all due respect, I kinda saw this coming that he was going to embarrass our state."

Ogles' transcript shows he got a "C" in American History, although he did pass a total of nine Political Science courses in the 17 years that it took him to complete his degree.

But, in the fall of 1995, the future congressman enrolled in U.S. Presidency, Problems in Government, Political Theory and National Security Policy — and flunked every one of them. And three years later, in the fall of 1998, it happened again.

William Andrew Ogles college transcripts Watermarked_Page_2.jpg
Page 2 of Andy Ogles' college transcript

Finally, in 2007, Ogles went back to college and finished the Liberal Studies degree — with a 2.4 GPA.

William Andrew Ogles college transcripts Watermarked_Page_3.jpg
Page 3 of Andy Ogles' college transcript

So what does the congressman have to say?

During last week's congressional break, we went to Ogles' hometown in search of answers, checking out the Columbia address listed on his website as his new congressional office.

Then we called and texted, but the freshman Republican ignored our requests for comment.

However, in an apparently preemptive move, Ogles released a statement Sunday night to a conservative website, The Tennessee Star, in which he claimed he just learned that his degree was in Liberal Studies after requesting his official transcript.

"When I pulled my transcript to verify, I realized I was mistaken," Ogles said in a statement. "I apologize for my misstatement."

Andy Ogles Statement.jpg
Andy Ogles statement

He blamed his failing grades on "an interfamilial matter" that forced him to drop out of college and return home "to financially support my family during a difficult time."

In 2007, Ogles said, he took several online courses and completed a senior project to get his degree.

"At the time, it was my understanding I had completed my course of study in Political Science and International Relations," Ogles continued.

His statement did not address other questions uncovered by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.

As for Randy Stamps, he said Ogles has a longtime history of being deceptive, although he had not fully appreciated how deceptive he was.

"I think the level of the deception is surprising to me that you have helped uncover," Stamps said.

Our investigation also discovered other claims that have been exaggerated, including his claims to be "a former member of law enforcement, worked in international sex crimes, specifically child trafficking."

Ogles' congressional website claims that he worked with a human trafficking group, "overseeing operations and investments in 12 countries."

In fact, that group, Abolition International, was not in 12 countries during his limited time with the organization.

"He's still deceiving, he's still not forthcoming," Stamps said. "He, I don't believe, has the courage to sit down and talk it through and apologize for misrepresenting himself to the people of Tennessee. Until he does that, I don't think he's worthy of the office."

––––––––––––––––––––––

Do you have information that would help me with my investigation? Send me your tips: phil.williams@newschannel5.com

RELATED STORIES:

January 26, 2023: Tennessee's newest congressman, Rep. Andy Ogles, quickly became a key player in the battle for control of the House. But a NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered the freshman Republican has never complied with a federal law required of all congressional candidates.

Andy Ogles election party
U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tennessee.

February 16, 2023: If you believe Middle Tennessee's newest congressman, he's not only a businessman, he's also an economist, a nationally recognized expert in tax policy and health care, a trained police officer, even an expert in international sex crimes. But an exclusive NewsChannel 5 investigation discovered that Andy Ogles' personal life story is filled with exaggerations, a story that's often too good to be true.

February 17, 2023: New Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles has claimed to have done graduate work at highly respected business schools at Vanderbilt and Dartmouth universities, but is it true? Not really.

February 21, 2023: "My body of work speaks for itself." That was the reaction Tuesday morning from freshman Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles to days of controversy following a NewsChannel 5 investigation into his claims to be an economist, a trained police officer, even an expert in international sex crimes.

February 27, 2023: What was in Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles' college transcript that he didn't want you to see? NewsChannel 5 Investigates now has the answer.

William Andrew Ogles college transcripts Watermarked_Page_1.jpg
Page 1 of Andy Ogles' college transcript

March 13, 2023: Questions continue to mount about Middle Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles and the stories he tells. The latest questions center on the Maury County Republican's claims to have been a successful business leader before he turned to public service.

March 15, 2023: What did Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles do with tens of thousands of dollars meant for a children's burial garden? Now, NewsChannel 5 Investigates has uncovered more questions that the freshman Republican won't answer.

Phil Williams Andy Ogles.jpeg
Phil Williams tries to get answers from U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles

March 16, 2023: A new day brings new stories from Congressman Andy Ogles as he attempts to explain away a controversial GoFundMe drive.

Novembe 29, 2023: Where did Congressman Andy Ogles get $320,000 that he claims to have loaned his campaign? Now in Congress, NewsChannel 5 Investigates discovered that Ogles has not disclosed any substantial investments. He doesn't even report having a savings account.

January 9, 2024: A nonpartisan watchdog group has asked a federal ethics agency to investigate Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles over $1 million of discrepancies in financial disclosures he was required to file with the U.S. House. The Campaign Legal Center (CLC) repeatedly cites NewsChannel 5's reporting in the complaint that was filed Tuesday with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), comparing Ogles' conduct to disgraced New York Congressman George Santos.

Andy Ogles and McCarthy AP Photo.jpg
Andy Ogles and George Santos confer with Matt Gaetz during the debate over the House speakership

May 22, 2024: Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles filed 11 amendments to his campaign finance reports Wednesday, acknowledging that his claims for the last two years to have loaned $320,000 to his campaign were not true.

August 6, 2024: FBI agents executed a search warrant late last week on Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles as the first-term Republican faces continuing scrutiny over fraudulent campaign financial reports that he filed, NewsChannel 5 has confirmed.

January 6, 2025: A recent release from the U.S. House Ethics Committee points to a worsening legal situation for Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles,who now faces a congressional investigation into a $320,000 campaign contribution that he appears to have completely fabricated.

January 8, 2025: Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles — with the help of a team of high-powered lawyers — has quietly managed to tie up an FBI investigation into his campaign finances for the past five months, NewsChannel 5 has discovered.

Back to NewsChannel 5 Investigates