A traditionally humdrum meeting detailing motor vehicle issues took a turn Wednesday when Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales spent nearly 15 minutes blasting critical press coverage, repeating the phrase “fake news” a dozen times during what’s typically a brief housekeeping segment.

During the Motor Vehicle Advisory Board meeting, Morales launched into a wide-ranging monologue defending his record, touting trade delegation meetings and visits to county fairs.

Morales challengers line up as criticism over international trips mounts

“Don’t pay attention to the fake news,” Morales said. “It is time for someone like me to share what we have done.”

He specifically called out WIBC and The Indianapolis Star, accusing the news outlets of misrepresenting his work and accomplishments.

“I’m not going to let the fake news, the fake IndyStar, the fake WIBC, to define me,” Morales said. “They are fake news, and they deserve to be called out.”

Since taking office in 2023, Morales has faced a stream of criticism tied to his international travel, office spending and hiring decisions. Media reports have scrutinized international trips and the use of campaign money to purchase a personal vehicle.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle has additionally reported on multimillion dollar no-bid contracts awarded by the office, as well as hundreds of thousands of dollars in spot bonuses approved by Morales.

One of his office’s duties is to oversee the state’s auto dealers. The advisory board weighs in on the contents of forms; methods and procedures for evaluation of the qualifications of applicants for licenses; licensure actions and investigations into unfair practices.

In his remarks, the secretary of state denied using public dollars for international travel and said he personally footed the bill.

“No taxpayer money was used (for) all of this, because I don’t believe in that, unlike what the fake news says,” he said “I pay for it. I (put) my money where my mouth is.”

He also suggested that his engagement with foreign delegations was yielding tangible economic benefits, like car manufacturing jobs.

“When I went to downtown Chicago to the (Japanese) emperor’s birthday … they told me… ‘Indiana is our friend. We will be moving our Honda operations from Mexico to Indiana,’” he said.

“Yet the fake news said … ‘Diego Morales is at some guy’s birthday’ — when that ‘some guy’s birthday’ is moving their Honda operations here,” Morales continued.

He also praised President Donald Trump for implementing tariffs that influenced the move but took partial credit himself.

“I give him 99% because of his tariffs, but I take that 1%,” he said.

Morales also name-dropped visits to Germany — where he said he met with Volkswagen representatives — as well as trips to Taiwan and India.

Traditionally, economic trade and promotion of the state falls to other state agencies, such as the Indiana Economic Development Corporation or Governor’s Office.

More than trade

The secretary of state also touted voter registration drives at county fairs, boasted about his office’s outreach efforts at the Indiana State Fair and his own energy level.

“Tell me who other statewide office holder has crisscrossed all 92 counties within three months. No one,” Morales said. “My work ethic is unmatched. You know who’s the crazy guy who arrives in the statehouse between five and 5:30 a.m.?”

He referenced a new “AutoCheck” tool developed with Experian and said his office is prioritizing consumers by giving them free access to used car information. State taxpayers are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for the service.

He also said that under his leadership, the office has increased enforcement activity.

“Before I came into office, we were getting more than 1,000 complaints just in one year,” Morales said. “And do you know how many enforcement actions they took? Twenty-one. That is unacceptable.”

Morales further spoke of his leadership, global experience and disdain for criticism.

“You can hate me if you want to. I don’t care. I don’t care. I’m here to get the job done,” he said, emphasizing that he didn’t seek the statewide office seat “to be a puppet.”

“You have never had a secretary of state like me who has a vision, who has studied all over the world, who has different skills and talents to benefit Indiana,” Morales added.

“Let’s look at Diego Morales — his abilities, his skills and talents that he has,” he said. “And you know what? I don’t care if you tell me this bragging. … There is no substitute against hard work. So you know what, I’m fired up and I’m excited, I’m excited to take on the world.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.

Facing down a sea of her own seething constituents in Westfield on Friday, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz’s town hall descended into a two-hour shouting match just minutes after it began.

Screams from the crowd were nearly constant, often drowning out the Republican representative as she took questions on a range of issues.

Constituents’ fury was wide-ranging: from outrage over inflation, tariffs and the national deficit; to concerns over health care and decreased government services; heated opposition to federal deportation efforts and spending cuts directed by Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE); and frustration over President Donald Trump’s response to the Signal scandal at the U.S. Department of Defense.

“You work for us!”

“We don’t trust you!”

“You’re a f****** liar!”

“You’re not listening to us!”

Spartz, a third-term federal lawmaker who represents Indiana’s 5th Congressional District north of Indianapolis, struggled for nearly two hours to speak over the yells and boos.

And she isn’t the only Indiana public official being criticized for access, or a lack thereof. Examples abound, from Attorney General Todd Rokita to state lawmakers and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.

Spartz’s event came shortly after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson advised Republicans to avoid town halls which have been attracting vocal critics of actions by Trump and Musk, who is leading an effort to ferret out waste and fraud that has included firing federal employees, halting some government payments and uprooting programs.

Spartz, however, did not heed that warning and faced hundreds of angry — often hostile — Hoosiers at town halls on Friday and Saturday, the latter held in Muncie.

She threatened at several points during the town halls to stop hosting such events, but repeatedly asserted her desire “to hear all sides” from “everyone in my district.”

“You don’t have to scream,” Spartz told Friday’s crowd in Westfield. “I’m glad that we have people that came here — and I understand your frustration. … That’s why I have these town halls. We want to have these conversations. But if people just come here because they want to scream, it’s not productive.”

Some of Spartz’s GOP colleagues have been less inclined.

Republican U.S. Senators Jim Banks and Todd Young, as well as Reps. Mark Messmer and Marlin Stutzman, are among those being criticized for not holding or attending town halls.

Banks, specifically, ignited a political backlash last week after he skipped a constituent-led “Empty Chair Town Hall” and instead sent donuts — a move critics called “a dismissive stunt.”

“The idea of people having access to government in a variety of ways is foundational to American representative democracy. On one hand, it shouldn’t have to be required — it should just go without saying that in a representative form of government law, public officials should speak to the people who put them in office,” said Gerry Lanosga, professor of journalism at Indiana University and board member for the Indiana Coalition for Open Government.

“What we’re kind of seeing now is partly pushed by officials who get into office and just don’t want to engage with citizens more than beyond the ballot box,” he continued. “I think it’s a real concern. And I think it’s a real sort of black eye on American democracy if public officials want to insulate themselves from the voices of people.”

‘Chaotic,’ ‘frustrating’ town halls

During the weekend town halls, Spartz emphasized that her office “has an open door policy” and “wants to hear from you all.”

In Westfield, multiple constituents pushed back: “You never respond!” some said. Others left angrily in the middle of the event, shouting that Spartz “doesn’t actually want to hear from you — she doesn’t care what you think!”

In a post to X on Saturday, Spartz rebutted.

“I don’t think (the) radical left has learned yet that shouting and screaming is not going to work — no one is going to be intimidated,” she wrote. “I still appreciate everyone who came to my town halls this week & hope at least some on the left were able to hear common sense policies we are trying to implement benefiting all Americans.”

Elsewhere in recent weeks, other members of Indiana’s congressional delegation have been absent from “empty chair” town halls across the state.

One of those hosted last week by Indivisible Northeast Indiana — part of a progressive national movement to “mobilize local activists to resist extremist polices” — drew hundreds to the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne.

Indiana House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta and state Rep. Kyle Miller, both Democrats, took the stage to answer questions from the public. Three of Indiana’s Republican congressional lawmakers — Banks, Stutzman and Young — were represented by empty chairs.

Banks, Indiana’s junior U.S. senator, instead sent donuts to the crowd.

He said on X that the Indivisible group consists of Democrats who are “anti-Trump/Banks,” and that town hall attendees seemed “really angry.”

“So I sent my favorite donuts hoping to lighten the mood,” Banks said.

A video about the donut delivery showed some at the event laughing and eating the donuts. Others weren’t so receptive.

“I’m going to throw up on them,” said one attendee. Another asked, “Why isn’t he here?” referring to Banks, while a third man said, “Tell him to go to hell.”

Jim Carpenter, co-founder of Indivisible Northeast Indiana, said in a statement that “the parlor trick of offering donuts” was “a waste of taxpayer money” and “ironic coming from someone pledging to eliminate fraud and waste in the federal government.”

When asked about the town halls, Banks’s staff gave the Indiana Capital Chronicle a single response: “No taxpayer dollars were used to purchase donuts.”

The “indivisible” Democrat anti-Trump/Banks group held a “town hall” yesterday. Seemed like they were REALLY angry so I sent my favorite donuts hoping to lighten the mood. You won’t want to miss what happened next! 🤯 WATCH: pic.twitter.com/b9f3J3v45X
— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) March 22, 2025

Young, separately, had met with the Indivisible group following a protest in front of his office.

A spokesperson for the senator told the Capital Chronicle that he “regularly meets with Hoosiers in a variety of formats, including attending meetings and events across Indiana, hosting constituent coffees, and holding virtual meetings with Hoosier groups when the Senate is in session.” Additionally, Young’s staff “meets with individuals and groups in all 92 counties.”

In Evansville, hundreds of protesters gathered earlier this month in “frustration” over refusals by Messmer, Indiana’s 8th District representative, to hold a town hall or engage with constituent concerns.

Hoosiers also pushed back after staff for U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, who represents Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, “put a pause” on regularly scheduled office hours with constituents in Bedford.

Democratic officials have been more willing to continue town halls.

Rep. André Carson, whose district encompasses most of Indianapolis, hosted an hour-long virtual conversation last week, where he largely fielded questions about DOGE cuts.

First Congressional District Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat from Highland, held a similar remote town hall in early March.

State officials face scrutiny, too

At the state level, Republican Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said he also remains committed to meeting face-to-face with Hoosiers.

Ahead of his Monday town hall in Franklin, Beckwith made clear in a post to X that, “I think going out into communities and having conversations is such an important part of being in public office.”

Even so, constituents are barred from responding to the lieutenant governor’s posts on the social media site.

Beckwith’s staff have previously suggested that “security” concerns prompted tighter interaction restrictions on X, and said the office’s social media accounts — along with the accounts for the two agencies that report to the lieutenant governor — are monitored by his team “in an effort to inform the public about activities and events.”

They cited the office’s social media policy, which states that “the focus of the social networking opportunities is to share information” about the agencies, while “larger discussions of political views and philosophies may be addressed elsewhere.”

Beckwith’s personal X account alternatively permits anyone to comment and reply on posts, for example.

Such limitations were not in place on social media accounts held by former Republican Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, nor are those restrictions in place Gov. Mike Braun’s official account.

The Capital Chronicle also received complaints from constituents who encountered issues when trying to contact the Indiana Attorney General’s Office by phone or email.

Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita maintained that Hoosiers have “unprecedented access to his office” but said staff are sometimes “bombarded, and we have overflow.”

“If a number is left, we call it back, for sure,” Rokita said about phone calls to the state agency. He noted that his office has “several full-time employee-equivalents” whose jobs are dedicated to “consumer outreach.”

Rokita referenced his “Eyes on Education Portal,” which at times has flooded and even “overwhelmed” the office with messages in “short period(s) of time.”

He also pointed to the agency’s employee handbook, which requires that “all phone calls, all emails — any contact — is to be returned in 24 business hours.”

“And if that doesn’t happen, there are consequences. It doesn’t happen often, but I executed one of those consequences a couple weeks ago, and I’m just sad to hear something like that. But if it’s a pattern, I promise I’ll get to the bottom of it,” Rokita said. “I pride myself on accessibility.”

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray further held that it’s “super important” for state lawmakers to remain open and accessible to Hoosiers.

That “can be challenging,” though, during the legislative session.

“We’re super busy. I go, like everybody else, to at least one town hall … during the weekends, on Friday or Saturday. And most of mine this year have been pretty full and kind of robust conversations, which I really, really enjoy,” Bray said. “And I try pretty hard to answer emails and phone calls and things like that, but it is difficult to keep up with those because of the pace of session.”

“Probably not unlike any others, I could stand a little bit of criticism for being slow to get back with people,” he continued. “But the folks’ input is super important. It helps me stay grounded and keeps my ear to the ground. The time I invest in that makes me a much better legislator.”

Lanosga described an “eroding, a kind of shrinking in the ability of people to get their voices heard by government officials, at all levels, from both sides of the aisle,” over the last three decades. Increasingly, he said, “the ears of the representatives or politicians aren’t hearing the voices of the people.”

“I think citizens — if they’re disturbed about lack of engagement or lack of responsiveness of elected officials — should pick up the phone. They should write letters. They can write letters to news media. They can write emails. They can do social media campaigns,” he said. “All of those things should be tools in the arsenal of arguing for these sorts of robust public debates and public discourse.”

While there can be “legitimate reasons” for public officials to limit accessibility — such as for physical safety — Lanosga cautioned that those justifications “can end up really pushing back the boundaries of people’s access to make their voices heard.”

“Citizens can go to meetings that are scheduled of governing bodies. But outside that, government officials don’t really have to talk to you if they don’t want to. I think it’s very serious,” he said. “And so in those circumstances, you’re right to kind of ask, ‘What’s the point of me even raising my voice if no one’s here to listen to it?’ And so that’s kind of the situation we’re getting into. And if people don’t start pushing back against it and reclaiming that territory, it’s really hard to get back.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.

Former Indiana congressional candidate Gabriel ‘Gabe’ Whitley is admitting that he falsified campaign finance records, saying he lied about raising hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions ahead of the May 2024 primary.

Questions about Whitley’s campaign finances were first reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle early last year.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana said in Wednesday evening news release that Whitley will plead guilty to making false statements to the Federal Election Commission by fabricating contributions purportedly made to his campaign, “Honest Gabe for Congress,” for the purpose of “falsely portraying that his campaign had significantly greater support and financial resources than it actually did.”

Whitley was a Republican candidate in the primary election for Indiana’s Seventh Congressional District — which comprises much of Indianapolis — and served as treasurer of his campaign committee, according to court documents.

He now faces up to five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years probation. It will be up to a federal district court judge to determine his exact sentence at a Jan. 28 hearing.

Indiana congressional candidate faces campaign finance scrutiny

The U.S. attorney’s office said Whitley admitted that he lied to the FEC in three separate reports about hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from supporters and loans from himself.

“Specifically, Whitley admitted that in October 2023, he falsely claimed that 67 people, whose biographical details he made up, had contributed approximately $222,690 to Honest Gabe for Congress,” the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release.

In January 2024, Whitley again falsely reported contributions from individuals “whose biographical details he fabricated.” He did the same in April 2024, falsifying a $100,000 loan to his campaign.

The FBI Indianapolis Field Office investigated the case.

Complaints alleging Whitley’s excessive campaign contributions and fraudulent financial reporting were sent to the FEC and the Indiana Election Division in February by Gabrielle Kendall, wife of WIBC radio host Rob Kendall. At the time, Whitley told the Capital Chronicle the accusations were “absurd.”

When asked by the Capital Chronicle if the contested donors are real, Whitley said “there’s no more comment I’m going to say on that,” Whitley said. “We’ve been in compliance with the FEC. We talked with them. We have a good relationship with them.”

Previously, questions about Whitley’s campaign finances were raised by The Evansville Courier & Press stemming from his short-lived Evansville mayoral campaign.

The paper reported Whitley’s fundraising reports filed with the state in 2021 and 2022 raised questions that he may have violated Indiana election law by documenting he raised thousands of dollars in campaign cash from people who denied giving him donations.

Whitley said he hired an unnamed political consulting firm to solicit contributions via email on his behalf. He reported no such expenditures on his 2021 and 2022 campaign finance filings, however.

In August, Whitley was arrested in a separate case for alleged online threats and harassment he made against Indianapolis-based political commentator Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. That case is still pending in Marion County Superior Court.

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com.

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

Noel, a prominent Hoosier Republican himself, currently faces more than two dozen felony charges for allegedly misusing money from the fire and EMS departments which he oversaw.

Of the more than $100,000 he’s contributed to GOP candidates and campaigns since 2008, per state and federal campaign finance records, investigators now allege at least $33,000 made in Noel’s name actually came from public funds he misappropriated between 2020 and 2023.

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

The former sheriff is accused of using credit cards from New Chapel EMS and the Utica Township Volunteer Firefighters Association to fund his and his family’s lifestyle — spending millions of taxpayer dollars on cars, planes, vacations, cigars, clothing and other luxury purchases.

Separate from the criminal filings, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita is also seeking to force Noel, as well as his wife Misty and their daughter, Kasey, to pay back more than $4 million.

Noel is currently awaiting trial, scheduled for November, in the Scott County Jail. Though he completed a 60-day sentence in June for contempt of court, his bond amount was increased to $1.5 million a day after new charges — some related to the WinRed donations — were levied against him.

Investigation reveals thousands to WinRed

Details about Noel’s WinRed contributions came to light last month, when six new charges were filed against him — five for theft and one for money laundering – amid an ongoing investigation.

Dollars donated via WinRed can be earmarked for particular candidates and campaigns, at both the federal and state levels, across all 50 states. It’s a similar platform to the Democratic Party’s ActBlue.

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

Story continues below.

3rd Probable Cause Affidavit Redacted (1)

Investigators allege the donations were charged to the Utica Township Volunteer Fire Fighters Association’s American Express Card linked to a Fifth Third Bank Account.

Additionally, Noel is accused of using public funds to contribute another $8,902.56 through Apple Pay, PayPal and Venmo donations. When contributing, Noel used his name as the contributor — not the firefighter’s association, according to court documents.

The contributions made via WinRed allegedly totaled $33,121.28 — about a third of all political contributions on record by Noel.

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

It’s not yet clear what might happen to the donations made with misappropriated taxpayer dollars.

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

Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator from Georgia whose campaign was in receipt of $1,250 from Noel in 2020, additionally did not reply to questions about the donations.

Holcomb unwilling to redirect donations, for now

Among Hoosier politicos, Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has received the lion share of campaign donations made by Noel over the last two decades. State and federal records tally at least $33,622 to Holcomb across his campaigns for both U.S. Senate and governor. None of those dollars came from WinRed, however.

Holcomb has repeatedly maintained he never knowingly accepted political donations or non-nominal travel, gifts or otherwise from Noel — which could have been paid for with stolen taxpayer dollars. He said allegations against his close friend and associate are “so surprising.”

The governor told the Capital Chronicle that his “understanding” was that Noel’s donations, specifically, were “all above board.”

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

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 for various Hoosier Republicans.

Elected Indiana Republicans received more than $100,000 in contributions from companies and individuals tied to the scandal. Holcomb accepted more than $10,000 in campaign cash. He later donated the contributions to a local education nonprofit.

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

“But typically, you end up spending what you received during a campaign,” Holcomb continued. “What we’ve learned recently, what the accusations are — I’m just referring to my previous comments, and they remain the core of my beliefs, and that’s that I’m stunned, I’m shocked and surprised, and never once was one unethical word uttered to me.”

The governor said “the legal process will have to play out” before any contributions could be returned. For now, the accusations against Noel are “unfounded.”

“We’ll watch this legal process play out, but to my knowledge, all the contributions that he gave me and everyone else were of from legal means,” Holcomb concluded.

Other Indiana politicos respond

Among Noel’s other contributions was a $2,900 earmark, via WinRed, to current GOP congresswoman Erin Houchin.

Her staff told the Capital Chronicle that contribution was donated to the Washington County Community Foundation in December 2023. It’s the only example of redirected Noel donations identified by the Capital Chronicle.

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

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

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

Other recipients of Noel 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 about those contributions.

Jennifer McCormick, the Democratic candidate for governor, has said she will likely bring up the Noel scandal while campaigning.

A spokesperson for the Indiana Republican State Committee — which has accepted multiple donations from Noel since 2011, and at least $3,100 via WinRed between 2020 and 2022, according to FEC records — maintained that the party “unequivocally condemn(s) the alleged actions of Jamey Noel.” There’s no indication that any of Noel’s contributions could be returned or donated elsewhere, though.

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

“The Indiana Democratic Party is currently in complete disarray, plagued by internal conflicts over multiple statewide tickets,” Reid continued. “In contrast, the Indiana Republican Party stands united with a strong ticket, fully prepared to secure victory in November.”

Mike Braun, the Republican nominee for Indiana governor, additionally admonished Noel. His U.S. Senate campaign accepted one $1,000 donation from Noel in 2018.

“There is no question that Jamey Noel is a bad actor, and equally as disparate is the fact that Democrats think a one-time donation six years ago is relevant,” said Josh Kelley, a senior advisor to Braun. “While Mike Braun is visiting all 92 counties discussing his Freedom and Opportunity Agenda, the Democrats are stuck in the past, and that is one of many reasons why they are the two worst Democrat candidates to ever appear on the same ballot in our state’s history.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@indianacapitalchronicle.com. Follow Indiana Capital Chronicle on Facebook and X.