House Banking scandal? Was she ever convicted?
-snip-Notwithstanding her achievements, her career was increasingly surrounded by scandal over time. In 1991, it became clear that she had written numerous overdraft checks at the House Bank.
Though four-fifths of all members of Congress had at least one overdraft, she had over 200, more than all but a few members.
This was due to the fact that the House Bank was not a financial institution in the legal sense, and it permitted its members to do this without penalty.
In 1992, her district was renumbered the 10th and redrawn to include more Republicans, though it was still heavily Democratic. Oakar withstood a challenge from Tim Hagan in the Democratic primary - Hagan had been endorsed by Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White - but lost to Martin Hoke in the general election.
Oakar was charged in 1993 with making false financial disclosures in a case related to the House banking scandal. The case dragged on for years, and she finally pled guilty to violating campaign finance laws, a misdemeanor. She did, however, win a 1999 settlement against The Plain Dealer for libel.