Maryland Republican operative James Appel, who has provided accounting and compliance services for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District Rep. Andy Ogles, is facing federal embezzlement and fraud charges. Ogles owes Appel’s Annapolis-based firm, GOP Compliance, $9,000 for accounting and compliance services related to the Tennessee congressman’s debt-saddled campaign legal defense fund.
Federal charges detail a money-shuffling scheme in which Appel is alleged to have taken $100,000 from a Maryland state lawmaker’s campaign to cover personal costs, including refinancing a Pacific Mariner 65 yacht. Appel described himself as Ogles’ “trustee” to the Scene in August, though Ogles' accounts were not named in the 10-page indictment dated March 26. Appel's firm serves in compliance and accounting roles for dozens of GOP candidates and committees. Appel did not immediately respond to the Scene’s request for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Niche legal defense account shows nine months of unpaid bills, adding to congressman’s financial woes
“All over America right now people are going through their books,” Brett Kappel, a campaign finance attorney based in D.C., tells the Scene. “And they are questioning whether reports filed in their name are remotely accurate. That’s not a good day on the campaign.”
Ogles was not named in the indictment. But his account — which owed $170,000 in legal bills as of December 2025 — may have contributed to Appel’s financial strain, as Ogles owes nine months of unpaid bills to Appel’s firm. The Tennessee congressman has struggled to raise money for his looming reelection bid and had unsteady campaign finance support. Local conservative megadonor Lee Beaman told U.S. senators in December that Ogles initially listed him as his campaign treasurer without Beaman’s consent; Ogles later recruited Thomas Datwyler, a national GOP consultant based in Wisconsin, as treasurer for his congressional campaign.
Ogles will likely face Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder, a well-funded opponent with support from the national Democratic apparatus, in November’s general election.
