New reporting from Mother Jones raises questions about Ohio car dealership magnate Bernie Moreno’s claims of being a self-made businessman.
Moreno, the Republican U.S. Senate nominee challenging Democratic U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown this fall, has often described his rise from modest beginnings. However, the Mother Jones report reveals a more complex picture involving financial support, special favors, and advantageous deals that contributed to his success in building a car dealership empire.
Moreno has portrayed his immigrant family as “lower middle class” and claimed they “came here with absolutely nothing.” Yet, a New York Times report earlier this year highlights significant political and financial connections in Colombia, where Moreno’s family has considerable influence. One of Moreno’s brothers operates a major construction firm, while another served as president of the Inter-American Development Bank.
The Mother Jones investigation details how Moreno’s first Ohio dealership was acquired through a favorable deal facilitated by Mercedes-Benz. The luxury car manufacturer arranged for billionaire automotive tycoon Roger Penske to sell the dealership to Moreno at a reduced price, with Penske receiving a new dealership location in Arizona in return. Moreno also secured advantageous lease terms through family connections in private equity.
These revelations have intensified scrutiny of Moreno’s business practices. Earlier this year, Mother Jones reported that Moreno paid over $400,000 to settle a wage-theft lawsuit in Massachusetts, where he admitted to shredding overtime-payment records. This settlement is among more than a dozen wage-theft claims Moreno has resolved in Massachusetts.
Further details from the South Florida case show additional assistance Moreno received. He reportedly obtained millions of dollars in financial support from manufacturers to open new dealerships. Court records indicate that Nissan provided Moreno with $1.25 million for an Akron dealership, $650,000 for a Cleveland location, and $3.75 million for another dealership near Cleveland’s airport. These transactions have prompted complaints from rival dealers who argue that Moreno received an unfair advantage.
In 2016, Automotive News reported on the financial relationship between Moreno and Nissan, noting that Nissan’s support for Moreno led to tensions with other dealers. Later that year, four Ohio dealers sued Nissan, alleging that the company gave Moreno an illegal competitive edge through lavish incentives.
