JustRalph
05-06-2008, 11:22 PM
http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/06/copy/CLEAN_COPY.ART_ART_05-06-08_A1_8AA4CNF.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
AG Scandal
Quit or be impeached, Democrats tell Dann
The governor and seven other top Democrats tell the beleaguered attorney general to go
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 3:18 AM
By Alan Johnson, James Nash and Jim Siegel
A defiant Attorney General Marc Dann rebuffed calls from state leaders to resign yesterday, pushing his fellow Democrats toward something that apparently hasn't happened in Ohio's 205-year history: the impeachment of a statewide official.
Gov. Ted Strickland joined seven other top Ohio Democrats in an extraordinary effort to oust the attorney general. They said Dann no longer can function in that office because of a litany of management failings and ethical breaches -- including an affair with an employee -- that surfaced in an investigation into sexual-harassment charges involving a Dann aide.
The Dispatch broke the news of the unified call for Dann's ouster yesterday on Dispatch.com.
"The work of the office of the attorney general matters more, and is far more important, than any one person," the Democrats wrote in a letter sent Sunday night to Dann. "In many, many cases it is all that stands between the people and the powerful. Sadly, we no longer have even the most remote hope that you can continue to effectively serve as attorney general and that is why we are asking for your resignation."
Dann rejected the request in two late-night phone conversations Sunday with Strickland. The governor said Dann was "rather firm" in his resolve. Dann reaffirmed his refusal in an e-mail at 11:43 a.m. yesterday to his entire staff.
"I am in the office, have rolled up my sleeves and am working on behalf of the people of the state of Ohio. I hope you will do the same," he wrote.
Later yesterday, Dann told the Akron Beacon Journal editorial board that he needs more time to prove himself.
"If I reach a point where I am detracting from the office, I will reconsider," Dann said. "I am nowhere near that point now."
Dann, 46, was paid $98,466 last year.
In a news conference on the Statehouse steps, Strickland said Dann told him "that he does not believe that he has done anything that would justify his leaving office, that he feels that he was elected by the people, and he will continue to do his best to remain in office."
But the governor, who noted that he spoke for five or six hours Sunday with other Democratic officials, said Dann must step down because of inconsistencies in his testi- mony and the totality of the problems in his office.
The Democrats' letter was also signed by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Treasurer Richard Cordray, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, the party's two legislative leaders, Rep. Joyce Beatty and Sen. Ray Miller, both of Columbus, and state party Chairman Chris Redfern.
The state party also is prepared to disown Dann, Redfern said. In 2006, Dann was the most outspoken member of a Democratic statewide slate that promised to end corruption in state government. On Saturday, Redfern said, the party's executive committee is to vote on rescinding its 2006 endorsement of Dann.
~more at the link~
AG Scandal
Quit or be impeached, Democrats tell Dann
The governor and seven other top Democrats tell the beleaguered attorney general to go
Tuesday, May 6, 2008 3:18 AM
By Alan Johnson, James Nash and Jim Siegel
A defiant Attorney General Marc Dann rebuffed calls from state leaders to resign yesterday, pushing his fellow Democrats toward something that apparently hasn't happened in Ohio's 205-year history: the impeachment of a statewide official.
Gov. Ted Strickland joined seven other top Ohio Democrats in an extraordinary effort to oust the attorney general. They said Dann no longer can function in that office because of a litany of management failings and ethical breaches -- including an affair with an employee -- that surfaced in an investigation into sexual-harassment charges involving a Dann aide.
The Dispatch broke the news of the unified call for Dann's ouster yesterday on Dispatch.com.
"The work of the office of the attorney general matters more, and is far more important, than any one person," the Democrats wrote in a letter sent Sunday night to Dann. "In many, many cases it is all that stands between the people and the powerful. Sadly, we no longer have even the most remote hope that you can continue to effectively serve as attorney general and that is why we are asking for your resignation."
Dann rejected the request in two late-night phone conversations Sunday with Strickland. The governor said Dann was "rather firm" in his resolve. Dann reaffirmed his refusal in an e-mail at 11:43 a.m. yesterday to his entire staff.
"I am in the office, have rolled up my sleeves and am working on behalf of the people of the state of Ohio. I hope you will do the same," he wrote.
Later yesterday, Dann told the Akron Beacon Journal editorial board that he needs more time to prove himself.
"If I reach a point where I am detracting from the office, I will reconsider," Dann said. "I am nowhere near that point now."
Dann, 46, was paid $98,466 last year.
In a news conference on the Statehouse steps, Strickland said Dann told him "that he does not believe that he has done anything that would justify his leaving office, that he feels that he was elected by the people, and he will continue to do his best to remain in office."
But the governor, who noted that he spoke for five or six hours Sunday with other Democratic officials, said Dann must step down because of inconsistencies in his testi- mony and the totality of the problems in his office.
The Democrats' letter was also signed by Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, Treasurer Richard Cordray, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, the party's two legislative leaders, Rep. Joyce Beatty and Sen. Ray Miller, both of Columbus, and state party Chairman Chris Redfern.
The state party also is prepared to disown Dann, Redfern said. In 2006, Dann was the most outspoken member of a Democratic statewide slate that promised to end corruption in state government. On Saturday, Redfern said, the party's executive committee is to vote on rescinding its 2006 endorsement of Dann.
~more at the link~