WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Ohio Republican Party on Thursday filed a complaint with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost that alleges the Democratic Party’s congressional candidate in Ohio’s 14th congressional district - Painesville attorney Hillary “Toro” O’Connor Mueri - illegally voted in both Ohio and California during the 2008 presidential primary.

The complaint states that Mueri, who received her law degree from the University of San Diego, was registered to vote in both states in 2008. It says she voted in California’s Democratic presidential primary in the San Diego area on February 5, 2008 and also cast an absentee ballot in Ohio’s March 4, 2008 presidential primary, citing a Concord Township residence.

A statement from Mueri said cleveland.com’s inquiry about the complaint was the first she’d heard of it.

“I’ve served my country in combat as a Naval Flight Officer just so we can have the right to vote," said a statement from Mueri. "I take it seriously. The Ohio GOP is attacking me in order to distract from the partisan purging of voters in Ohio that disenfranchises the people in our state who most need their voices heard. I believe we must end Republican voter suppression in Ohio and throughout the country, and we shouldn’t be distracted by their sleight of hand tricks.”

A campaign spokesperson said Mueri moved to San Diego to be with her soon-to-be husband, who was transferred there by the U.S. Navy. Mueri does not believe she sent an absentee ballot to Ohio in the 2008 primary election and “can’t fathom why" records might indicate she did, the spokesperson said.

The complaint says Mueri lost her Ohio residence for voting purposes when she voted in California. When she cast her absentee ballot in Ohio 28 days after voting in California, the complaint says Mueri couldn’t have met Ohio’s requirement to be a state resident for the immediate 30 day period before the election. According to the complaint, it’s a fourth-degree felony in Ohio to vote or attempt to vote in an election “in which that person is not a legally qualified elector.”

“I urge you to examine the evidence presented, and if you determine that Ms. O’Connor Mueri violated the law, refer this matter to the appropriate prosecution,” said the complaint filed by Ohio Republican Party Executive Director Rob Secaur.

A Yost spokesman said the office received Secaur’s letter and is reviewing it. An attorney for Mueri’s campaign said Ohio has a six-year statute of limitations for prosecution of most felonies, including voting allegations, so legal action is unlikely.

Mueri is seeking the congressional seat held by Bainbridge Township Republican Rep. Dave Joyce, which includes all of Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties and parts of Cuyahoga, Summit, Portage and Trumbull counties.

In December, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose referred 18 voters to prosecutors for allegedly voting twice in the 2018 general election. He said the potential violations were found by cross-referencing voting records from states who share their voter data to improve the accuracy of voter rolls and enhance confidence in elections. He said 10 of those Ohioans voted first in another state before casting their ballots elsewhere, and the other eight voted in other states after casting their Ohio ballots.

After reviewing the complaint against Mueri, LaRose said it appeared to be “the exact type of violation I would refer to the Attorney General for investigation — you can’t vote twice in the same election."

“The strength of our democratic republic is the sacred right of every citizen to get registered and cast a vote, and law breakers who demonstrate this level of poor judgment devalue that right when they abuse the process,” said a statement from LaRose.

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