COLUMBUS — If it were up to him, Gov. Ted Strickland said he would conduct the investigation into sexual harassment accusations against a top aide to Attorney General Marc Dann differently than fellow Democrat Dann is.

"I would choose to have an external investigation," Strickland told WSYX ABC 6 TV in Columbus on Wednesday, April 16. Dann is handling the probe into sexual harassment allegations against top aide Anthony Gutierrez in-house.

Dann named Ben Espy, executive assistant attorney general and a Dann appointee, to conduct the investigation into the harassment claims by two 26-year-old women. Some observers, including former Ohio Democratic Chairman James Ruvolo, have said the public would have more confidence in the process if someone who didn't owe his or her appointment to Dann would conduct the investigation.

Ultimately, "the court of public opinion" will decide whether the internal investigation is "an investigation that the people can have confidence in," Strickland said in a separate talk with reporters.

He deflected a question about whether he thought Dann should resign, noting that he was elected by a vote of the people.

"I know of no reason for him to resign, so of course I would not say that he should resign," he said.

About a block away, while speaking to reporters, Dann called any talk of his resignation "ridiculous."

"I'm extraordinarily proud of the work the attorney general's office is doing. We are holding people who hurt consumers accountable. We're taking on predatory lenders. We've changed the way business is done in a way that I promised to do when I ran for office. Absolutely, it (resigning) never crossed my mind."

Dann noted that in addition to his internal investigation, a complaint was filed with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which will trigger a separate investigation.

In another development, Youngstown attorney Samuel Amendolara, who represents Gutierrez, said that he has yet to see the complaints, text messages or e-mails that are part of the investigation and that he wants a full investigation into the allegations brought by two female employees in Dann's office, Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26.

"I find it curious where (Stankoski) seems to be or alleges that she is in such distress that she can't even look at him, she can't go to work, (yet) she planned his birthday party for him," Amendolara said.

"They're only saying to the press and the investigators what they want them to know," said Amendolara.

Dann has placed Gutierrez on paid leave from his $87,484-a-year job as Dann's director of general services.

Leo Jennings III, Dann's communications director, also has been placed on administrative leave from his $102,000-a-year job because of information Dann's office received related to the investigation.

One alleged incident of sexual harassment was reported at a suburban Columbus apartment that Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings — friends from the Youngstown area — were sharing. Dann has since moved out.

Dann's office has released 12 pages of notes that detail allegations of repeated sexual harassment and possibly an attempt to destroy text messages that may document the incidents.

Stankoski told Angela Smedlund, the attorney general's Equal Opportunity Officer, that on Sept. 10 she and Gutierrez, 50, had drinks after work and then went to the apartment Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings shared.

While there, she said she went to lie down because she felt tipsy. When she awoke, she said, her pants were undone and Gutierrez was next to her in his underwear.

Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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