Congressman Defends Hiring of Man Linked to Alleged Fake Charity Scheme

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Congressman Mike Rulli is standing by his decision to hire Mike Peppel, a man who was forced to repay tens of thousands of dollars as part of an alleged fake charity scheme, as his congressional communications director. Peppel, who previously worked for Rulli in the Ohio Statehouse, was involved in a controversial fundraising effort following the 2023 Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine.

Peppel co-founded the Ohio Clean Water Fund, which collected nearly $149,000 from donors claiming to assist East Palestine residents affected by the derailment. The fund allegedly misrepresented its affiliation with the Second Harvest Food Bank, leading to widespread criticism and legal action. Michael Iberis, executive director of the Second Harvest Food Bank, expressed shock and disappointment at Peppel’s hiring. “It affected this community a great deal. It shook a lot of confidence in people to have a local person be a scammer,” Iberis said.

In 2024, Peppel and two other defendants, Isaih Wartman and Luke Mahoney of WAMA Strategies, settled civil litigation with the Ohio Attorney General‘s office. Under the settlement, Peppel paid a $25,000 civil penalty and agreed to a lifetime ban on starting, running, or soliciting money for any charity in Ohio. Wartman and Mahoney each paid $22,000 to the food bank, along with $3,000 in investigative costs.

Rulli defended Peppel’s hiring in a statement, emphasizing his “extraordinary work ethic, loyalty, and dedication to the people of our region.” He added, “In light of the dismissal of any and all civil complaints against Mr. Peppel, we are ready to move forward and focus on serving our constituents with a proven leader joining our team.”

Peppel’s hiring came to light when he emailed a newsroom regarding a congressional vote. Despite the controversy, Rulli has chosen to retain Peppel, who has also worked for former Congressman Bill Johnson.