Turner paid his wife's firm: Updated

Rep. Mike Turner paid his wife's company, Turner Marketing, for campaign services, according to a report out Monday from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a liberal watchdog group based in Washington.

Turner's personal financial disclosure report lists his wife's employer as "Turner Marketing," aka "Turner Effect," but does not say what her salary is.

The CREW report says, based on campaign documents, that Turner paid his wife, Lori, $51,099 for campaign work since 2001. Turner represents northern Warren County.

UPDATED - Turner offered this comment Tuesday:

"My wife has never been paid for working on any of my campaign for mayor or congress. My campaigns have used the staff of her company for marketing services such as websites, yard signs, literature, etc. and paid fair market rates. This represents less than 1% of her company's revenues. Surely, no one can expect me to seek loyal marketing services from her competitors."

Turner isn't alone. According to the report, some 72 members of the U.S. Houe paid more than $5 million in campaign funds to relatives or their relatives' companies during the past six years.

CLICK HERE to read the story in Monday's USA TODAY.