Lawsuit alleges corruption in Browns’ stadium $600 million funding deal

A lawsuit filed by former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann and former state lawmaker Jeff Crossman alleges corruption in the $600 million in unclaimed funds allocated to the Cleveland Browns for a new stadium. The suit claims the Haslams, owners of the Browns, donated $100,000 to a campaign opposing a 2024 anti-gerrymandering amendment, and in return, the legislature created a mechanism to transfer funds from the Ohio Unclaimed Funds Trust Fund to the team. Critics argue this constitutes a 'pay-to-play' scheme, drawing parallels to a previous corruption case involving FirstEnergy.

A Franklin County judge has temporarily halted the fund transfer for 14 days, citing potential irreparable harm to rightful owners of unclaimed property. The lawsuit argues the plan violates constitutional protections regarding property and due process, with plaintiffs highlighting difficulties in claiming funds due to processing delays.

Haslam Sports Group denies the allegations, stating the donations and the stadium funding are separate issues and emphasizing the Haslams’ significant personal investment in the project—over $1.5 billion. The case is also being pursued in federal court, with an appeal underway after an initial ruling against the plaintiffs.

(Source：Cleveland)