Ohio Dems seek impeachment of scandal-scarred AG { Marc Dann }

AP via SFGate ^ | 5/13/8 | STEPHEN MAJORS, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

Columbus, Ohio (AP) --

House Democrats filed articles of impeachment Tuesday against scandal-scarred Attorney General Marc Dann, a fellow Democrat who could become the first official impeached and convicted in Ohio in two centuries.

The lawmakers' resolution outlines nine counts alleging that Dann should be impeached for gross neglect of duty, gross immorality and obstruction of his office's investigation that found an employee was sexually harassed by a top aide.

On May 2, Dann admitted an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to the sexual harassment claims. Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation, which showed that management encouraged a casual work environment with frequent profanity and inappropriate interactions with subordinates.

Removing Dann from office would require support from Republicans, who control the Legislature, and a Senate trial. Ohio has not used the impeachment process since 1820, and 1808 was the last time someone was impeached and convicted.

Dann has refused resignation requests from leaders in both parties, including Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland.

"The attorney general has said that he does not believe there are grounds for impeachment, and he will continue to do the job that he was elected to do," his spokesman Jason Stanford said in a news release.

The Democrats' resolution accuses Dann of making misleading statements under oath and says he should have known his actions created a hostile work environment. Three Democratic lawmakers who researched the articles of impeachment said in a news release that Dann undermined the integrity of his office and betrayed the public trust.

[SmithL]

Ohio Dems are in full Dann-age Control mode.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

http://blog.cleveland.com/plaindealer/2008/05/sources_dann_to_resign.html

Sources: Dann to resign
Posted by kturner May 13, 2008 13:48PM
Categories: Top Story
Lisa DeJong/Plain Dealer fileMarc Dann

Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is expected to announce his resignation later today, The Plain Dealer has learned. He planned to break the news to his senior staff this afternoon.

The decision came as Dann faced intense pressure both from fellow Democrats and Republican critics who said he was not fit to continue as the state’s top lawyer.

It also followed action targeting Dann in the Ohio General Assembly today by lawmakers from both parties. House Democrats this morning filed articles of impeachment against Dann, accusing him of misconduct and malfeasance in office. And House Republicans began plans to fast-track a bill that would allow the state Inspector General’s office to conduct an independent investigation into Dann’s office.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Story in Breaking News.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2015387/posts

[SmithL]

Cross-Ping Sources: Dann to resign

Thanks!

[MovementConservative]

"The attorney general has said that he does not believe there are grounds for impeachment, and he will continue to do the job that he was elected to do," his spokesman Jason Stanford said in a news release.

Doesn't matter what he believes. If enough legislators believe there are grounds for impeachment, he's done. He has to be smart enough to realize that it's not going to blow over. Resign and be done with it.

[MovementConservative]

Ohio Dems are in full Dann-age Control mode.

Now if only we could get the congressional republicans to go into "Dann-age control" whenever some toe-tapping perv or just plain crook rears their head in the GOP caucus. Last I checked Larry Craig and Ted Stevens were still out there tarnishing the GOP name.

[untrained skeptic]

We've already seen evidence of not only moral bankruptcy, but criminal acts by his cronies that he appointed.

It sounds like things are well out of control in the AG office and that an investigation would turn up more scandal and more criminal acts.

The Dems gained a lot of offices because of what appeared to be minor corruption and major idiocy by Taft, as well as corruption by a major supporter of Republicans.

The Dems do not want Marc Dann's scandals lingering in the press through the election cycle. You can't have much credibility on corruption with an AG that is that obviously corrupt and incompetent.

They want him gone ASAP, and they want credit for policing their own while heading into the election cycle.

[paudio]

With the Republicans control the Legislature, will they make the process slow enough (but not too much) so that the case is dragged to the end of Summer?

[mtntop3]

And House Republicans began plans to fast-track a bill that would allow the state Inspector General’s office to conduct an independent investigation into Dann’s office.

Exactly what's needed.

[NeoCaveman]

Ohio Dems are stuck in Eternal Dannation.

[untrained skeptic]

With the Republicans control the Legislature, will they make the process slow enough (but not too much) so that the case is dragged to the end of Summer?

I think that there are still enough Republicans in office with enough skeletons in their closets that they'd rather not set too much of a precedence of digging into the actions of public office holders more than necessary.

With the governor and the rest of the Democrats calling for handling this quickly, I don't think they'll be able to drag it out too long without to much backlash from the press for dragging it out, and I also suspect once it becomes obvious that Dann can't dodge the bullet, he will resign, if he already hasn't done so tonight since I didn't watch the news.

[Clintonfatigued]

If only Republicans had done this with Bob Taft...