CLEVELAND, Ohio - Democratic former Gov. Ted Strickland criticized former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich for failing to promptly disclose a $20,000 payment from a group sympathetic to Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Strickland, who served in Congress with Kucinich, said he was shocked after the source of the income from a paid speech was made public in Kucinich's amended ethics disclosure statement. Kucinich, Strickland said, was being deliberately untruthful about who gave him money by initially filing incomplete ethics disclosure forms.

"The fact that Dennis intentionally omitted his ties to these despicable individuals speaks volumes, I think, and it shows he knew these relationships were problematic," Strickland said during a conference call with reporters. "No doubt he was trying to hide this information from the citizens of Ohio."

The former governor, who thus far hasn't been publicly involved in the race, also endorsed former federal consumer watchdog Richard Cordray on the call.

Kucinch's connection to Syria and his friendly relationship with Assad has thrust an issue into the race that is not directly relevant to the Ohio governor's office. But Kucinich's relationship with Assad, widely regarded as a dictator who has been accused by multiple intelligence agencies of using chemical weapons on civilians during the Syrian Civil War, has raised questions throughout the campaign both about Kucinich's loyalties and judgment.

So when it became public that Kucinich omitted a $20,000 payment from the Syria Solidarity Movement to attend a conference during 2017 in London full of Syrian-government sympathizers -- including two Syrian government ministers -- questions about Kucinich's ties were reignited.

"Dennis has chosen to associate himself with some of the most despicable people imaginable. You don't get much lower than gassing men, women and little kids, and that's what the Assad regime has done," Strickland said, also calling Kucinich a "cheerleader" for the Syrian president.

The Cordray campaign via Strickland wasn't the only one to criticize Kucinich after the revelations. State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, a Democrat running for governor, said Kucinich needed to condemn Assad and explain himself to Ohioans.

"It's simple," Schiavoni said. "Mr. Kucinich needs to explain his ties to one of the world's worst dictators. Bashar al-Assad has been gassing his own people to death. Friendly connections to Assad or related groups would be unacceptable."

Strickland called on Kucinich to release information on all of his paid speeches since he left office in 2013.

In a statement released Wednesday afternoon, Kucinich said Strickland's comments about his speech amounted to lies. Kucinich said the speech -- which he released Tuesday night -- called for peace in Syria.

"To portray my position and my actions as anything else wreaks of intellectual, moral, and political dishonesty of the most despicable kind," Kucinich said. "It reveals a desperation that has abandoned truth and decency. And it is a blatantly crass attempt by Cordray to try to rescue his failing campaign by resorting to the darkest, most horrific themes imaginable. And, it is cowardly."

Tuesday's disclosure worried Strickland to the point where he predicted a dire outcome for Democrats if Kucinich won the primary. Strickland pointed to the scandal involving former Ohio House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, a Republican from Clarksville.

Rosenberger resigned after news broke of an FBI investigation into his spending and possible pay-to-play activities.

"I believe we simply cannot have a candidate for governor who has questionable financial dealings of his own," Strickland said.

The former governor, who lost to Republican Gov. John Kasich in 2010, said he was thankful the news broke when it did, unlike in 2014 when the Democratic Party experienced vetting problems of their top candidate.

Then-Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald received the Ohio Democratic Party endorsement en route to the nomination.

The FitzGerald campaign turned into a mess, dogged by scandal and eventually losing to Kasich by more than 30 points.

This post has been updated with comments from Dennis Kucinich.