The Ohio Department of the Inspector General has asked the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley and the VIP tickets she was given by the county for a Post Malone concert in July.
On July 2, Crawley was confronted by police and security guards at the Salute250 concert at Historic Crew Stadium benefitting veterans and celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Crawley, who is a veteran herself, received the tickets after the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission donated $250,000 to fund the event and help provide thousands of tickets to veterans and their friends and family.
In a letter written to the ethics commission last week, the inspector general's Office said they interviewed Crawley on a recorded line. During the interview, Crawley said she was the point of contact for the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission and ultimately she was the one to distribute the 18 tickets given to the county.
The letter said Crawley told the inspector general she gave 12 wristbands to the Veterans Service Commission and “they made six available to me.” Crawley said she took her family members and some community partners to the concert.
"Ms. Crawley denied the tickets and wristbands were a gift and said the Franklin County Veterans Service Commission contributed $250,000 to the event," the inspector general's letter said.
A spokesperson for the county declined to comment because Crawley hasn't received anything from the commission or the inspector general.
Documents provided to WOSU by the county this week show the $250,000 allocation was approved days before the concert on June 30 by Franklin County Administrator Kenneth Wilson. The Veterans Service Commission asked Wilson to use the commission's general budget allotment to sponsor the event.
The board of commissioners later approved the expenditure on July 28, weeks after the concert took place, in a $5 million budget resolution approving purchases for various county agencies, including the Veterans Service Commission. This included more than just the funding for the concert.
Crawley didn't recuse herself from the vote and it passed unanimously.
VIP tickets typically cost hundreds of dollars, depending on the artist, show and perks attached to the tickets. Crawley and her friends had access to a VIP lounge and a separate suite.
The incident came under scrutiny after Columbus police released body-worn camera footage to reporters late last week showing a confrontation between police and Crawley. Despite having proper credentials to be in the VIP section, the venue trespassed Crawley by claiming she didn't have the proper wristband.
The city inspector general is investigating the conduct of the officers. Crawley alleges the officers displayed rude and discourteous behavior while working special duty.
Body-worn camera footage showed officers followed Crawley into a bathroom. Crawley also accused an officer of grabbing her, but the video doesn't appear to show that.
During its investigation of police conduct, the inspector general decided to refer Crawley to the Ohio Ethics Commission to investigate her about the tickets and "any violations of the Ohio Ethics Law and related statutes as it relates to the details contained in this letter."
The Ohio Ethics Commission is bound by Ohio Revised Code not to disclose the status of its investigations. A spokesperson explained that when the commission receives a complaint like this, it has to investigate whether the gift was substantial in nature and from an improper source.
The results of any investigations could become public in several ways, including:
- A grand jury indictment.
- A settlement agreement is reached.
- If the case is closed, a letter is sent to the public official subject to the investigation informing them of the results.
When police told Crawley she was being trespassed by the owner, Crawley insisted she wasn't trespassing. When threatened with arrest and jail time, Crawley told police she was "above the jail."
Crawley explained to WOSU in an interview last week that when arguing with police, she said this to acknowledge she knew which jail police would take her to because her name is on it.
Crawley said that in hindsight, she wouldn't have said this if she knew she'd be taken out of context.
Besides this exchange, Crawley didn't mention her position during the police confrontation, but some of her friends warned the police officers about her position. In side conversations shown in the body-worn camera footage, officers spoke with the event organizers who told the officers who she was.
The inspector general's letter also said the office spoke with Zach Ruben, the event's producer, on a recorded line.
The letter said Ruben explained that Crawley and her guests were “guests of the event,” and said Franklin County was one of the sponsors of the event. Ruben said Franklin County Veterans Service Commission was the sponsor of the event and stated, “Ms. Crawley advocated and participated in procuring that partnership on the behalf of the county.”
Ruben told the inspector general that Crawley and her guests were included and invited into the VIP area of the event.
