Federal Election Commission (FEC) records show several instances of financial reporting irregularities, including a fine, stemming from Andy Ogles’ 2002 campaign for the U.S. House in what was then the 4th Congressional District.
On June 30, 2003, Ogles was assessed an administrative fine in the amount of $2,700 for failure to file the 2002 year-end report. He paid the fine in full.
Ogles was a candidate in the August 1, 2002 TN-4 Republican primary, which was won by State Senator Janice Bowling.
The Tennessee Star recently reported that the results of his late-filed July 2022 quarterly campaign finance report shows he misled the public in a May press statement regarding the amount of money he raised.
Ogles additionally claimed to The Tennessee Journal, and they reported on May 11, that he told them via text message that “none of his fundraising total came in the form of loans and that all contributions were from within Tennessee.”
Ogles late-filing of his July 2022 campaign finance report and his previously assessed violation puts him at risk of as much as a $9,130.00 fine, according to an FEC calculator tool.
On March 14, 2002, Ogles filed his statement of organization with the FEC, with Melvin Spain listed as treasurer.
On August 6, 2002, the FEC sent a Request for Additional Information letter informing the Ogles campaign that the initial statement of organization filing “failed to designate a bank or other depository for committee funds.” Ogles was given 15 days to respond or amend the filing.
On August 29, 2002, the FEC sent Ogles another letter stating, “This letter is to inform you that as of August 28, 2002, the Commission has not received your response to our request for additional information, dated August 6, 2002. This notice requests information essential to full public disclosure of your federal election campaign finances.”
Ogles was given until September 18, 2002 to respond to that letter.
On July 13, Ogles filed his July quarterly report which covered the dates of April 1 through June 30. The FEC sent him at least two letters requesting more information regarding that report.
Ogles additionally filed his pre-primary report on the same day. Several letters were sent by the FEC regarding that report.
On August 20, the FEC sent a letter describing issues with July quarterly report disbursement descriptions and stating “when a committee reports receiving a loan from the candidate, it is necessary to clarify whether or not the candidate used personal funds or borrowed the money from a lending institution or some other source. If the candidate borrowed funds from a lending institution or other source, please provide the name of the lending institution and the complete terms of the loan.”
Ogles was given 15 days to respond.
The same day, the FEC transmitted a different letter describing issues with the pre-primary report. It again referenced issues with loans from Ogles to the campaign and the acceptance of a political action committee donation in excess of the $1,000 limit at the time.
On September 12, 2002, the FEC sent one letter that said they had not received a response to their August 20 letter. Ogles was given until October 2 to file a response.
On October 15, 2002, the Ogles campaign filed the October quarterly report with the FEC. On October 21, 2002, they transmitted the requested information about the source of the loans, as originally requested by the FEC on August 20.
In a letter dated January 22, 2003, the FEC wrote Ogles’ treasurer to inform him that the math in some of the columns did not add up, the beginning cash balance of the report did not equal the ending balance of the pre-primary report, and the October report did not comply with regulations requiring the continued reporting of outstanding loans.
On February 13, 2003, the FEC informed the Ogles campaign that they had not received the required response to that letter.
Ogles eventually filed an amended report, with himself listed as the treasurer, on April 13, 2004.
On February 20, 2003, the FEC sent a letter stating the Ogles for Congress had failed to file the required year-end report. That report was eventually filed on April 13, 2004.
In 2003 and 2004, the FEC sent at least four more letters detailing reporting issues, including failure to file.
Ogles appeared to have come into compliance with most of the FEC’s requests regarding his 2002 campaign finance filings on April 13, 2004.
Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles is a candidate in the August 4 Republican primary contest for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District seat.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, Truth Social, and Parler.
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Mayor Andy Ogles for Congress. Background Photo “U.S. House of Representatives” by History, Art & Archives – U.S. House of Representatives.
