Maryland GOP Candidates Employ Ex-Felon for Campaign Consulting

A political consultant with a criminal past has resurfaced in Maryland's GOP, particularly linked to Nino Mangione's campaign for the Baltimore County Council. Kelley Rogers, who served time for defrauding donors, is now employed by Campaign Communications, which has received over $121,500 from Mangione's campaign since January 2023, according to state election records.

Rogers previously operated a consulting firm called Strategic Campaign Group Inc., where he misused funds from political action committees intended for various candidates, including former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Following his conviction for wire fraud, Rogers was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $500,000 in restitution to over 7,800 victims.

In addition to Mangione, Campaign Communications has provided consulting services to other Republican candidates, including Baltimore County Executive hopeful Patrick Dyer and State Senate candidate Kevin Ford. The total payments to the firm from various campaigns exceed $153,500.

Rogers' return to the political scene has raised eyebrows, especially among his colleagues. Some, including retiring state Senator Chris West, have expressed concern over Mangione's choice to work with someone with such a criminal background. Despite this, Mangione has maintained a close working relationship with Rogers, who claims to have been involved in campaigns with Mangione since 2015.

While Mangione, Dyer, and Ford have not publicly addressed whether they were informed of Rogers' past and how it influenced their hiring decisions, their campaigns continue to thrive as they prepare for the upcoming primary election.

Campaign finance records reveal that Dyer's campaign paid Campaign Communications nearly $2,000 in April, while Ford's campaign made payments totaling more than $9,200 last year. The services provided by the firm include media consulting, online advertising, and field expenses.

Rogers has not offered detailed comments on his re-entry into politics or the ethical implications of his hiring; he simply referred to his past as resolved. As the primary approaches, the candidates are focused on their campaigns, with Mangione's team expressing optimism for a strong showing.

Reported by HarborBeat based on The Baltimore Banner (source).