Sen: Brown (D) Calls New DeWine (R) Ad False, Offers Proof

The campaign of Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Avon) has written to television stations airing the new NRSC ad on behalf of Sen. Mike DeWine, asserting that its central claim of nonpayment of unemployment taxes for thirteen years is demonstrably false. As proof, the campaign proffers the above document from the Ohio Bureau of Employment Services, confirming payment in April 1994 for the purpose of releasing the tax lien.

The letter is on the letterhead of the law firm of the Washington law firm of Perkins Coie. It refers to the payment of the tax after only four months, calls the ad false and misleading, and requests that it be taken down "for the sake of both FCC licensing requirements and the public interest."

UPDATE: Coverage from the Plain Dealer blog Openers:

Expect fireworks this afternoon as Sherrod Brown's campaign . . .

This goes to the new claim that Brown failed to pay $1,700 in unemployment taxes for 13 years. Brown . . . checked it out through staff and learned today that he had in fact paid the debt in 1994. The state of Ohio -- where DeWine was lieutenant governor at the time -- screwed up matters and never released the lien until last year, according to the Brown campaign and records it unearthed.

"The DeWine campaign and the Republican Party must immediately pull down yet another advertisement that deceived voters with an attack we have proven to be false," said Brown communications chief Joanna Kuebler. ...