Marcy Kaptur scrutinized over ties to steel lobbyist

Democratic Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio has faced scrutiny regarding her long-standing relationship with steel lobbyist Eileen Bradner. Records indicate that Kaptur’s principal campaign committee accepted nearly $40,000 in donations from Bradner and her firm’s political action committee over a twenty-year period.

In addition to the campaign contributions, filings from Alexandria, Virginia, reveal that Bradner was briefly listed as Kaptur’s attorney-in-fact during the refinancing of the congresswoman’s condominium in August 2010. Bradner, who served as a lobbyist for Wiley Rein LLP and later as a senior director at Nucor Corporation, maintains a lifelong friendship with Kaptur.

Caitlin Sutherland, executive director for Americans for Public Trust, described the arrangement as “extremely bizarre” for a member of Congress, noting that it creates the appearance of a potential conflict of interest. A spokesperson for Kaptur stated that the relationship is a long-standing family friendship dating back to their youth in Toledo, Ohio.