Bernie Moreno, a Trump-backed candidate for Ohio’s crucial U.S. Senate seat, has faced multiple discrimination lawsuits, according to an Associated Press review. The lawsuits were filed between 2015 and 2017 and alleged discrimination against employees in the run-up to the sale of Moreno’s high-end Cleveland car dealership. Two of the suits accused Moreno and his company of gender and age discrimination, while the third alleged race discrimination against a dealership run by a subsidiary. The lawsuits have come to light as Republican support has rallied behind Moreno since former President Donald Trump endorsed him last month. The winner of the GOP primary will face Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in the November election.
Three discrimination lawsuits were filed against Bernie Moreno and his company, Bernie Moreno Cos., in Cuyahoga County between 2015 and 2017, according to an Associated Press review. Two of the suits accused Moreno and his company of gender and age discrimination, respectively. The third lawsuit, in which Moreno was not named, alleged race discrimination against a dealership run by a subsidiary of his company. All three suits were settled out of court and the terms of the settlements were kept private, as is common in such cases.
A campaign spokesman for Moreno stated that the two employees who sued him directly now support his U.S. Senate campaign. Moreno, who was born in Bogotá, Colombia, has emphasized his commitment to equal opportunities for all his workers.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed Moreno in the three-way Republican primary for Ohio’s U.S. Senate seat. Republican support has since coalesced behind Moreno, with endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan and former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell.
Moreno’s opponent in the general election, incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, has made the dignity of work a central theme of his campaign. Moreno has focused on policies that benefit American workers and families in his Senate bid.
The discrimination claims against Moreno have shed light on his business practices as he seeks political office. The lawsuits were settled out of court, and their resolutions remain private. While some former employees have spoken positively of their experiences working for Moreno, the lawsuits raise questions about his company’s treatment of workers.
It is essential to note that while multiple lawsuits were filed against Moreno’s company, it does not necessarily indicate systemic discrimination. However, experts emphasize the importance of robust anti-discrimination training programs for companies, especially in traditionally male-dominated industries.
In response to AP’s reporting, the Moreno campaign shared an open letter signed by 23 former female employees, asserting that Moreno treated them fairly and respectfully.
In addition to the discrimination lawsuits, a subsidiary of Moreno’s company, M10 Motors, faced an unrelated lawsuit in Florida. The lawsuit alleged that the dealership’s website was inaccessible to the visually impaired, violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. A settlement was reached in that case in 2020.
The winner of the Republican primary on March 19 will face off against Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown in November. Brown is considered one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the closely divided Senate this year.
