Former Ohio state Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican who has run for U.S. Senate three times, is facing potential jail time for violating the terms of his 2020 divorce agreement with his ex-wife, Ilana. Both Mandel and his ex-wife were found in contempt of court and sentenced to seven days in jail. However, the sentences can be avoided if the conditions set by the court are met over the next four months. This marks the latest development in a divorce case that has attracted significant attention due to Mandel’s political profile and his ex-wife’s prominent position in Cleveland.
The Common Pleas Magistrate Paul Lange found that both Mandel and his ex-wife had entered each other’s homes without permission and failed to pay bills related to their three children. Additionally, Ilana Mandel was cited for missing a child’s soccer practice. However, contempt charges were not issued for other disputed matters, such as telephone time with the children and their 529 college savings account. To avoid jail, Josh Mandel will need to provide updates on the 529 account to his former spouse, while Ilana Mandel will need to cover the cost of a sports program for one of their children.
The divorce case between Josh Mandel and his ex-wife has been the subject of interest for several years, in part due to Mandel’s political prominence and his ex-wife’s affiliation with one of Cleveland’s affluent families. The case was initially filed in a different county and kept under seal, with limited access to the public. However, during Mandel’s Senate campaigns, he offered redacted copies of the file to news organizations for review. The secrecy was attributed to concerns for their children’s privacy and safety. The Cincinnati Enquirer challenged this and ultimately won the right to access the full file in a court ruling.
Josh Mandel has a history of running for the U.S. Senate, with unsuccessful bids against Democrat Sherrod Brown in 2012 and a decision to drop out of the 2018 race after initially seeking to challenge Brown again. In the 2022 primary, Mandel came in second in a crowded GOP field. The latest developments in his divorce case, including the threat of jail time for noncompliance with the court’s orders, add another layer of complexity to his public profile. Messages seeking comment were left with Mandel and the attorneys representing both parties, but their responses have not been provided.
Overall, Josh Mandel’s legal challenges related to his divorce case have put a spotlight on his personal life and raised questions about his ability to navigate complex family matters alongside his political aspirations. The ongoing issues stemming from the divorce agreement have underscored the repercussions of failing to comply with court orders and the potential consequences of contentious disputes between former spouses. In the coming months, it remains to be seen whether Mandel and his ex-wife can resolve the issues outlined by the court and avoid jail time as they work towards a resolution in their divorce proceedings.
