UPDATE | FitzGerald to donate McNally contribution to charity

YOUNGSTOWN — Ed FitzGerald, the Democratic nominee for governor, is donating to charity a $1,000 contribution that he received Jan. 31 from indicted Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally, according to his campaign.

An earlier dispatch from the campaign had indicated FitzGerald was returning the money.

McNally, a Democrat, was indicted Wednesday by a Cuyahoga County grand jury on one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, two counts of conspiracy, two counts of bribery, six counts of tampering with records, nine counts of perjury, one count of money laundering, two of telecommunications fraud, two counts of theft in office and nine misdemeanors.

McNally maintains his innocence saying the charges stem from his opposition, when he was a Mahoning County commissioner, to the county’s purchase of the former Forum Health Southside Medical Center, and that he did nothing illegal.

The Ohio Republican Party sent a statement earlier today questioning if FitzGerald would return the money from McNally because he called on Republican officeholders last year to give up campaign contributions from a businessman indicted on conspiracy charges related to contributions. Republican Gov. John Kasich, who received $22,396 in legal campaign contributions from the businessman, gave the money to charity.

Lauren Hitt, FitzGerald’s campaign spokeswoman, said FitzGerald, Cuyahoga County executive, had planned to donate the money before the Republican statement.