State Rep. Rodney Creech publicly dismissed his daughter’s statements about alleged inappropriate conduct as “textbook parental alienation” and politically motivated in a Facebook exchange that has since disappeared from his official page, according to screenshots reviewed by TiffinOhio.net.
The exchange occurred on Creech’s official state representative Facebook page, where his daughter responded to his characterization of family allegations as “100% in the name of politics.”
“Sir your daughter is telling you exactly how she feels what on earth are you talking about???” wrote a commenter in response to Creech’s post, according to screenshots. “And the fact that she has to post publicly tells us that she can’t do so privately.”
Creech responded: “Her post is just textbook parental alienation. Just trying to make me look bad.”
The West Alexandria Republican announced last week that he is running for re-election to his Ohio House District 40 seat rather than pursuing the state Senate seat he had previously sought, according to a campaign press release. Creech had initially announced a candidacy for Ohio State Senate District 5 in May 2025 but reversed course after months of controversy surrounding the BCI investigation.
Daughter’s public response
Creech’s daughter posted multiple responses to her father’s characterization, according to the screenshots.
“You continue to post trying to nail my mother and blame her, instead of taking blame for your own inappropriate actions,” she wrote. “I personally wouldn’t be commenting if it wasn’t for that… because I don’t give a shit what seat you’re running for or how you look ‘politically’ and I can tell you one thing, neither does my mother or anyone else in this family.”
She continued: “So move on with ‘100% in the name of politics’ and move on with ‘parental alienation’… heaven forbid a child speaks out about something like this, right?!”
In another comment, Creech’s daughter wrote: “The fact that you think two kids are CHOOSING to not have a father present in their life is insane. I wake up everyday and wish I had one that could’ve just treated his daughters like DAUGHTERS. Which you were incapable of.”
She added that her statements reflected “true feelings, which you never cared about and still clearly don’t.”
The comments are no longer visible on Creech’s Facebook page. Creech denied removing them, writing in the original exchange: “For the record I couldn’t even see the comment but someone did send me a screenshot. I don’t delete comments and have no reason to.”
Background: BCI investigation
The Facebook exchange referenced a 2023 Bureau of Criminal Investigation probe into allegations involving Creech and a minor family member.
A state investigation concluded in October 2024 with no criminal charges but findings of “concerning and suspicious” behavior by Creech, according to the Dayton Daily News, which obtained investigative records from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.
Clark County Prosecutor Daniel Driscoll, who reviewed the case as a special prosecutor, wrote that Creech’s “behavior during the time of the investigation was concerning and suspicious,” but that “the evidence falls short of the threshold needed for prosecution,” according to documents reported by multiple news outlets including WHIO and NBC4.
Ohio BCI investigated allegations that Creech climbed into bed with a minor family member while wearing only his underwear and having an erection, according to documents obtained by the Statehouse News Bureau. Creech was not charged.
According to BCI investigative records reported by the Dayton Daily News, Creech told state investigators he had gotten into bed with the minor in his underwear before but denied the sexual nature of the allegations.
The investigation began in November 2023 after Preble County Sheriff Mike Simpson and then-Prosecutor Martin Votel recused themselves due to their relationships with Creech, according to the Dayton Daily News. Simpson is a personal friend of Creech, and both officials allegedly took no investigative action when first told of the allegation in July 2023, the newspaper reported.
Political consequences
Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) stripped Creech of all four committee assignments in May 2025, including his chairmanship of the House Agriculture Committee, shortly before the Dayton Daily News first reported on the BCI investigation.
Huffman told the Dayton Daily News he asked Creech to resign, saying he “did not think that he could fill out his duties effectively as a legislator with this in the public sphere.”
Rep. Phil Plummer was interviewed by BCI investigators in February 2024 about a conversation with Creech regarding the allegations. Plummer told investigators that Creech made comments that were “disgusting and uncalled for” about the allegations, according to BCI records reported by multiple outlets.
Plummer, chair of the Montgomery County Republican Party and a former Montgomery County sheriff, told investigators: “I’m not doing this for political motivation. I’ll beat him any day of the week. He ain’t even on my radar,” according to the Dayton Daily News.
Despite having knowledge of the investigation, Montgomery County Republicans included Creech on their endorsement slate card for the November 2024 election, according to the Dayton Daily News. Creech won reelection to his third House term with 77% of the vote against Democrat Bobbie Arnold.
Plummer announced his Senate candidacy in July 2025, setting up what appeared to be a contentious primary matchup with Creech for the seat being vacated by term-limited Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City).
Reversal: Creech abandons Senate bid
On February 6, 2026, Creech announced he would abandon his Senate campaign and instead seek re-election to his House seat for what would be his fourth and final term, according to a campaign press release posted on Facebook.
“After much reflection and discussion with my family, I’ve decided to run for reelection for what will be my final term in the Ohio House of Representatives,” Creech said in the statement. “I couldn’t be more excited for this next chapter, and I cannot thank my constituents enough for the trust, love and support shown to me over the years.”
In the press release, Speaker Huffman issued a statement of support: “Rodney Creech has shown great dedication to the people of his district since his first election,” Huffman said. “Our caucus is supportive of his decision to run for his final term in the Ohio House of Representatives and will work to ensure his victory this fall.”
The reversal leaves Plummer as the apparent frontrunner for the Senate seat. Three Republicans have announced candidacy for Creech’s House seat, including Trenton Mayor Jeremy Perry, former state Rep. Jeff Smith, and law student Tanner Lainhart, according to Dayton Daily News.
Creech’s response
Creech has consistently characterized the allegations as false and politically motivated.
In a May 2025 statement reported by multiple news outlets, Creech said: “I’m deeply disappointed to see my political opponents dig up an old false allegation, for which a law enforcement investigation cleared my name. It seems to be no coincidence that this political smear piece is appearing just days after I announced my campaign for Ohio Senate.”
He added: “I want to be very clear: Dragging [a] child into a campaign and exploiting her for political gain is disgusting and unacceptable. These allegations have been found to be demonstrably false, and I have already begun pursuing legal action against those who are pushing this filth.”
In the Facebook exchange, Creech wrote: “This is so predictable and is just more games but the people aren’t buying it. This is 100% in the name of politics and ya’ll need to move on. It didn’t work!”
Creech’s attorney, Joe Cicero, told the Dayton Daily News in May 2025: “We’re done with anything that Phil Plummer claims was said.”
According to Creech’s campaign website, he characterizes himself as a “rock solid, America First conservative” and has aligned himself with Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. His platform includes eliminating the state income tax and creating an Ohio “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Creech’s decision to abandon the Senate race and return to seeking his House seat comes nine months after Huffman stripped him of committee assignments and asked him to resign.
