Rich Iott, 2010 House Candidate And Nazi Re-enactor, Donates To John Boehner's PAC

Rich Iott, a 2010 Ohio candidate for the U.S. House who drew national attention for participating in Nazi reenactments where he dressed as a member of the Waffen SS, donated to House Speaker John Boehner's political action committee, reports Washington Jewish Week.

Iott donated $2,400 to the Speaker's PAC, Friends of John Boehner, in February. Boehner's office did not respond to the Washington Jewish Week on whether or not he would return the donation.

Boehner's PAC donated thousands of dollars to Iott's campaign in 2010 before his past participation in Nazi reenactments came to light. His PAC gave Iott donations of $5,000 and $2,000. Both donations were made before the Nazi reenactment story surfaced. In light of the story, Boehner's PAC said it would not seek to recover the funds as had been urged by Democratic officials.

Iott defended his participation in the reenactments as a "purely historical interest" to The Atlantic. However, a local rabbi told the outlet that a reenactment "would be something unacceptable and certainly in poor taste, if not offensive."

Boehner endorsed Iott in 2010 and drew criticism for appearing together at a get-out-the-vote event just before the election. Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), who is Jewish, said he "would absolutely repudiate" Iott.

Iott lost to incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) by nearly twenty points in a heavily Democratic district in Northwest Ohio.