Most candidates aren't returning thousands in political donations, disgraced Sheriff Jamey Noel says • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Several Republican campaigns and committees that received political donations from disgraced former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel have said they have no plans to return or donate those dollars elsewhere — while many others are remaining silent, distancing themselves from Noel altogether.

Noel, a prominent Indiana Republican, currently faces more than two dozen criminal charges for allegedly embezzling money from the fire and emergency medical services he oversaw.

Of the more than $100,000 he has contributed to GOP candidates and campaigns since 2008, according to state and federal campaign finance records, investigators now say at least $33,000 earned in Noel's name came from in reality public funds that he embezzled between 2020 and 2023.

The donations, made through WinRed, a Republican fundraising platform, were to the campaigns of former President Donald Trump, the Indiana State Republican Committee, Congresswoman Erin Houchin and others .

Former sheriff is accused of using credit cards from New Chapel EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association to finance his and his family's lifestyle – spending millions of taxpayer dollars on cars, planes , vacations, cigars, clothes and other luxury purchases.

In addition to criminal charges, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is also seeking to force Noel, along with his wife Misty and their daughter, Kasey, to repay more than $4 million.

Noel is currently awaiting trial, scheduled for November, at the Scott County Jail. Although he served a 60-day sentence in June for contempt of court, his bail amount was increased to $1.5 million per day after new charges – some related to WinRed's donations – were brought against him.

Investigation reveals thousands killed by WinRed

Details of Noel's contributions to WinRed were revealed last month, when six new charges were filed against him – five for theft and one for money laundering – as part of an ongoing investigation.

Donations made through WinRed can be earmarked for specific candidates and campaigns, both federally and at the state level, in all 50 states. It’s a platform similar to the Democratic Party’s ActBlue.

Federal Election Commission (FEC) records, in conjunction with the new court documents, show that Noel donated approximately $20,518.72 between 2020 and 2023.

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Redacted Third Probable Cause Affidavit (1)

Investigators say the donations were charged to the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association's American Express card, which was linked to a Fifth Third bank account.

Additionally, Noel is accused of using public funds to contribute an additional $8,902.56 through Apple Pay, PayPal and Venmo donations. When making his contribution, Noel used his name as the donor – not that of the firefighters' association, according to court documents.

Contributions made through WinRed reportedly totaled $33,121.28, or about a third of all political contributions recorded by Noel.

WinRed did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Capital Chronicle.

It is not yet clear what might happen to donations made with embezzled taxpayer dollars.

The Trump campaign, which received at least $7,000 from Noel through WinRed, also did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator from Georgia whose campaign received $1,250 from Noel in 2020, also did not respond to questions about the donations.

Holcomb not looking to redirect donations at this time

Among Hoosier politicians, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has received the lion’s share of Noel’s campaign donations over the past two decades. State and federal records total at least $33,622 for Holcomb during his campaigns for both U.S. Senate and governor. However, none of those dollars came from WinRed.

Holcomb has repeatedly said he never knowingly accepted political donations or unnamed trips, gifts or the like from Noel — which may have been paid for with stolen taxpayer money. He said the allegations against his close friend and associate are “very surprising.”

The governor told the Capital Chronicle that his “understanding” was that the Noel donations, in particular, were “all above reproach.”

“This is not the first time this scenario has happened,” Holcomb said, largely referring to campaign contributions he previously received from donors in the online charter school scandal.

The scheme came to light in 2020, revealing that nearly $70 million in taxpayer funds from the Pike Township Educational Foundation went to campaigns and committees of various Hoosier Republicans.

Republican elected officials in Indiana received more than $100,000 in contributions from companies and individuals linked to the scandal. Holcomb accepted more than $10,000 in cash for the campaign. He then donated his contributions to a local nonprofit educational organization.

“The campaign donations that I received from (Noel) – and I received many other donations, none of which are in this situation, keeping things in perspective – but the individual donations that I I received from this individual, I understand came from him, they came from his account,” the governor said, adding that “if necessary,” the donations “could” be returned.

“But typically you end up spending what you get in a campaign,” Holcomb continued. “What we’ve learned recently, what the accusations are, I just refer to my previous comments, and they remain at the core of my beliefs, and that is that I’m stunned, I’m shocked and surprised, and never once has an unethical word been uttered to me.

The governor said “the legal process will have to be completed” before the contributions can be returned. For now, the accusations against Noel are “baseless.”

“We will monitor how this legal process unfolds, but to my knowledge, all of the contributions he made to me and everyone else were through legal means,” Holcomb concluded.

Other Indiana Politicians React

Among Noel's other contributions was a $2,900 envelope, via WinRed, to current Republican Congresswoman Erin Houchin.

His staff told the Capital Chronicle that the contribution was made to the Washington County Community Foundation in December 2023. It is the only instance of redirected donations from Noel identified by the Capital Chronicle.

Campaign finance records further show that Republican U.S. Sen. Todd Young received $1,800 from Noel between 2012 and 2016.

A spokesperson for Young stressed that Noel last contributed to Young eight years ago and as such “we have no plans to return these funds”.

The rise and fall of Jamey Noel — and the leading Indiana Republicans he knew along the way

Other recipients of Noel's donations — including former vice president and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, and his brother, U.S. Rep. Greg Pence — did not respond to requests for comment on the contributions.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick said she will likely bring up the Noel scandal during her campaign.

A spokesperson for the Indiana State Republican Committee, which has accepted numerous donations from Noel since 2011, and at least $3,100 through WinRed between 2020 and 2022, according to FEC records, said the party “unequivocally condemns Jamey Noel’s alleged actions.” There has been no indication, however, that Noel’s contributions could be returned or donated elsewhere.

“We haven’t accepted a donation from Jamey Noel in years,” said Griffin Reid, communications director for the Indiana Republican Party. “If this is true, (Noel’s) actions are despicable and unacceptable.”

“The Indiana Democratic Party is currently in complete disarray, plagued by infighting over several statewide tickets,” Reid continued. “In contrast, the Indiana Republican Party remains united with a strong team, fully prepared to secure victory in November.”

Mike Braun, the Republican candidate for governor of Indiana, also rebuked Noel. His U.S. Senate campaign accepted a $1,000 donation from Noel in 2018.

“There is no doubt that Jamey Noel is a bad actor, and just as disparate is the fact that Democrats think a single donation six years ago is relevant,” said Josh Kelley, a senior adviser to Braun. “As Mike Braun tours all 92 counties to discuss his freedom and opportunity agenda, Democrats are stuck in the past, and that's one of many reasons they are the two worst Democratic candidates to run never participated in the same election in the history of our state.