Jon Husted touts endorsement from Ohio lawmaker who admitted questionable behavior with a minor

CONTENT WARNING: This article includes mentions of alleged child sex abuse.

On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Jon Husted (R-OH) released a list of endorsements from Ohio lawmakers, including state Rep. Rodney Creech (R-West Alexandria) who admitted to questionable behavior involving a minor.

Husted is running in a special election this year to determine who will serve out the remaining two years of Vice President JD Vance’s Senate term. Vance was elected to the Senate in 2022, and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) appointed Husted as his replacement in January 2025 after Vance was sworn in as the Vice President of the United States.

Endorsement Alert

As Ohio House Speaker, @JonHusted led efforts to pass the largest tax cut in Ohio history.

In the Senate, he cast the deciding vote for the Working Families Tax Cut.

Ohioans know Husted will keep fighting for the policies that make life better for our… pic.twitter.com/E9sJCYK35y

— Team Husted (@TeamHusted) March 19, 2026

Husted’s office did not respond to a request to comment on Creech’s endorsement, or if he is aware of the allegations surrounding the lawmaker. Ohio Democratic Party Spokesperson Tony Wen said Ohioans deserve to know why Husted accepted Creech’s endorsement.

“After taking $116K from an Epstein co-conspirator and voting against the release of the Epstein files, Jon Husted is now proudly touting the endorsement of a lawmaker accused of sexual abuse of a minor,” Wen said in a statement. “It’s a disgusting pattern, and Ohioans deserve to know why Husted keeps surrounding himself with some of the most disturbing figures in Ohio politics.”

Creech’s sexual misconduct scandal

Last May, Creech was sanctioned and stripped of his committee assignments by Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima). Huffman also asked Creech to resign from office after an underaged family member accused the lawmaker of inappropriately touching her.

Creech has repeatedly denied the allegations and likened himself to President Donald Trump, who was previously found liable of sexual abuse, in a statement last year.

“These allegations have been found to be demonstrably false, and I have already begun pursuing legal action against those who are pushing this filth,” Creech said in the statement. “Like President Trump, I am no stranger to false media attacks.”

After the allegations, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) conducted an investigation into Creech. According to BCI records obtained by Statehouse News Bureau, Creech admitted to sometimes getting in bed with the minor while only wearing his underwear. The minor claimed that Creech would also be erect and touch her inappropriately. Creech denied the sexual nature of the incidents or any wrongdoing. Investigators spoke to Creech’s colleague Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), who said Creech’s comments about the allegations were “disgusting, uncalled for and appalling.”

No charges have been filed against Creech. Last month, Creech’s reelection bid was endorsed by the Ohio Republican Party, and his committee assignments were restored.

Last month, TiffinOhio reported on an exchange that apparently occurred on Creech’s official Facebook page. Although the exchange was later deleted, screenshots show that one of Creech’s daughters left a lengthy comment bashing him for his conduct.

“And there’s been multiple other inappropriate things that have been done and comments that have been said … which is why I left your house, but now I wish I didn’t because I take the responsibility since I was the one of the two daughters to open their mouth to you when you were wrong,” the screenshot of the comment says. “If I was there, you would’ve never got in bed, under the covers, in your underwear with her.”

Creech said, “Her post is just textbook parental alienation. Just trying to make me look bad.”

Parental alienation is a concept rejected by most mental health professionals, as it is used as a shield against abuse allegations made by underage individuals. Ohio Republicans are currently trying to write the term into law under House Bill 693 disguised as a parental rights concept.

HB 693 would prohibit child protective services from initiating an abuse or neglect investigation when parents refuse to recognize a child’s preferred gender. The bill would also remove restrictions on conversion therapy in the state, which are controversial practices that attempt to force LGBTQ+ individuals into being straight. Conversion therapy has been banned in over 20 states.

Creech cosponsors a drag ban bill

Creech’s scandal surfaced again on Thursday, when the Ohio House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on House Bill 249, dubbed the Indecent Exposure Modernization Act. Creech is a cosponsor of the bill.

The bill’s opponents, which include a slew of LGBTQ organizations, say the bill infringes on trans rights and would prohibit drag performances, a claim that is disputed by Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.), one the bill’s main sponsors who also sponsors HB 693.

“The bill does not say drag queen performances are inherently obscene. I know other states have taken that approach; this bill does not do that,” Williams said in Thursday’s hearing. “The only thing that this bans is performers, including drag, that engage in obscene conduct.”

Opponents also say that the bill’s vague language could allow law enforcement to shut down drag brunches, pride parades and other expressions of gender nonconformity. Danielle Firsich, the Director of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood of Ohio, spoke against claims that the bill will protect children, calling out the GOP for including Creech as a cosponsor.

“I also don’t want to be lectured about when it comes to what is obscene or not to children. You have a man who has just put back on his committees, who was accused of sexual misconduct with a minor, who is a sponsor on this bill. You all let him have his committee privileges back.”

Planned Parenthood Ohio’s @DanielleFirsich calls out Ohio State Rep. Josh Williams (R) for pushing a drag and anti-trans bill in order to “protect children” while allowing Rep. Rodney Creech (R), who is accused of gross sexual misconduct with a minor relative, to sponsor it.

“I… pic.twitter.com/QOFL67neQU

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) March 19, 2026