A Republican in Ohio urged Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on Wednesday to return the donations he received from Norfolk Southern following the train derailment in the state last month.
Conservative businessman Bernie Moreno, who will likely challenge Brown for his Senate seat next year, claimed the Democrat had received “thousands” of dollars from the railroad company responsible for the train derailment in East Palestine.
“Sherrod Brown has taken thousands of dollars in donations from Norfolk Southern,” Moreno told the Washington Free Beacon. “That may explain why it took him so long to speak out about what happened in East Palestine.”
Brown, who is currently fundraising for his reelection campaign, said corporate lobbyists for the railroad company were to blame for the derailment that forced thousands to flee. Brown has received at least $41,000 in donations from the company and its lobbyists, according to the outlet.
At least five of Norfolk Southern’s lobbyists have donated to Brown throughout his time in Congress, giving the senator $31,000 combined. The railroad company itself has donated $10,000 to Brown’s campaign over the years, according to campaign finance documents. However, its most recent donation to Brown was in 2015.
“[Brown] talks a big game on the campaign trail about standing up to corporate interests, but then takes money from those very same corporate interests to fund his political career,” Moreno said. “If he actually cared about the people of East Palestine, he would have already returned every cent he ever received from Norfolk Southern.”
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A Norfolk Southern freight train carrying hazardous materials crashed on Feb. 3, causing 38 train cars to derail from their tracks. The incident has left residents in the town concerned about long-term health effects due to the released chemicals. Officials from the Environmental Protection Agency have claimed the water is safe to drink, but the air quality in the town has recently been called into question.
Moreno has not announced a bid for the Senate, but he is considered a strong contender to face Brown next year. Ohio, which was previously considered a swing state, has been turning more conservative over the years. Junior Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) recently beat former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for the Senate seat in the 2022 midterm elections.
