Rep. Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat, maintained a close relationship with a steel lobbyist, Eileen Bradner, for over two decades, during which Kaptur accepted nearly $40,000 in campaign donations from Bradner and her firm's Political Action Committee. Bradner was also briefly listed as Kaptur's attorney-in-fact in 2010 when the congresswoman was refinancing her condominium.
The relationship has drawn criticism from ethics watchdogs. "It is extremely bizarre for a Member of Congress to give power of attorney to a major DC lobbyist," said Caitlin Sutherland, executive director for Americans for Public Trust. "Marcy Kaptur has been outspoken about ethics and transparency, yet she engaged in a relationship that gave the appearance of a potential conflict of interest. This raises serious questions about whether this woman lobbied Kaptur’s office or received any other special access or benefit while acting as an agent for the congresswoman."
Social media posts indicate Bradner kept photos of Kaptur in her office, attended political events, and celebrated family milestones with the congresswoman. Kaptur, 80, is seeking her 23rd term representing Ohio's Ninth Congressional District, a seat identified as a "toss-up" by the Cook Political Report.
Kaptur's office stated that the friendship with Bradner and her deceased parents dates back to their youth and shared attendance at a Toledo, Ohio, Catholic parish. "Ms. Bradner is an attorney," Kaptur spokesman Ben Kamens said. "In 2010 when the Congresswoman was refinancing the interest rate on her Washington area apartment, she was caring for a family member in Ohio and could not return to complete documents in person and the Credit Union she uses suggested she have a POA sign the documents."
Kamens further explained that this arrangement, where a designated agent receives legal authority to sign documents for a party unable to be present, "does not grant that person any legal benefits, ownership rights, or equity in the property, nor does it confer any liability for the financial transaction."
Bradner worked as a lobbyist for Wiley Rein LLP from 1998 to 2009, and then as senior director of federal government affairs at Nucor Corporation until her retirement in 2023. Nucor Corporation’s PAC contributed $38,400 to Kaptur's campaign between October 2008 and March 2026. Bradner herself donated $2,150 directly to Kaptur's campaigns between 2004 and 2018.
During the same period, Kaptur's voting record showed support for legislation that Bradner lobbied for, including the Emergency Steel Loan Guarantee and Emergency Oil and Gas Guaranteed Loan Act of 1999, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, and the 2022 CHIPS and Science Act. A review of disclosures and House votes revealed over 30 instances where Kaptur's votes or co-sponsorships coincided with Bradner's lobbying efforts. In at least one instance, Kaptur voted against the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004, a bill intended to protect steel workers' pension plans, which Bradner's lobbying disclosures indicated she opposed.
House rules prohibit lawmakers from accepting campaign contributions in exchange for official actions. Kaptur's office emphasized her long-standing support for the steel industry and her role as a member of the Bipartisan Congressional Steel Caucus, highlighting her advocacy for steelmaking companies within her district. "Nucor, meanwhile, is the largest steel producer in the United States and makes the vast majority of its steel domestically and Ms. Bradner’s work or positions with Nucor before her retirement don’t make her political support for Ms. Kaptur anything untoward," Kamens added, suggesting that Bradner's support likely stemmed from her affinity for Northwest Ohio, where both women were raised.