Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley is asking a special prosecutor to handle the criminal charges against restaurant owner Bobby George, who is the son of one of O’Malley’s campaign donors. 

Cleveland city prosecutors charged George this month with multiple felonies, including kidnapping, rape and attempted murder. The charges stem from an investigation by the Cleveland police domestic violence unit, records show.

George has pleaded not guilty in Cleveland Municipal Court. His attorney, Kevin Spellacy, has contested the charges in media interviews, saying police did not interview George before bringing the case. A message seeking comment was left with Spellacy’s office.

George’s father, restaurant and business owner Tony George, is a prominent political donor in the Cleveland area. He gave $20,000 to O’Malley’s reelection bid in the months leading up to this year’s Democratic primary, campaign disclosures show. The elder George also hosted a fundraiser for O’Malley last October at Summer House, one of his restaurants. 

“Prosecutor O’Malley does not believe he has ever met Robert George,” O’Malley’s communications manager, Alexandria Bauer, wrote in a statement Thursday morning. “However, to avoid any appearance of conflict, Prosecutor O’Malley decided last week to appoint a Special Prosecutor to lead the investigation and bring whatever criminal charges may be appropriate.”

O’Malley this week appointed Jefferson County Prosecutor Jane Hanlin to oversee the case involving the younger George. Hanlin previously served as president of the Ohio Prosecuting Attorneys Association. She originally filed the 2012 rape charges against two Steubenville High School football players, but later recused herself from the case.

Although the charges initiated with city prosecutors, it remains up to a county prosecutor whether to present the case to a grand jury.