Area H.S. football: Week 2
Puppy mill raid
Arnold convicted of killing baby
Dem leaders call for independent investigation
Strickland says Attorney General's office operating with 'double standard.'
Related content:
Dann won't resign over office affair
> Investigation filled with tawdry details
> Dem leaders call for independent investigation
> Harassment, vulgarity part of office environment, staffers say
> Dann explains why scheduler was at his apartment
> AG's tenure full of trouble spots
> Timeline | Comment | Photos | Video
Earlier: Dann admits to affair with staff member
> Report critical of Dann
> Dann gives his side, felt 'uncomfortable'
Saturday, May 03, 2008
COLUMBUS — If embattled Attorney General Marc Dann was looking for political comfort from fellow Democrats, he didn't get much of it from his party's two top leaders, Gov. Ted Strickland and state Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern.
Both called for an independent investigation into the sexual harassment charges that have rocked Dann's office and were the basis of the internal investigative report released on Friday, May 2.
Extras
"I ...believe that the people of Ohio, because of the political nature of this matter, will have greater confidence if there is an investigation that is done independently of the office," said Strickland.
Redfern, a state representative from Catawba Island, said that he agreed with Strickland.
"It's sad for everyone," said Redfern.
Strickland said he wanted to learn more before deciding whether Dann should resign.
"What I do know is very troubling. What I do know is very disappointing. What I do know causes me to feel anger," the governor said.
Asked if he thought there was a double standard at work in Dann's office — two top aides were fired and two other employees resigned while Dann escaped discipline — Strickland said that "there seemed to be some double standard."
Although Strickland and Redfern did not immediately call for his resignation, Republic leaders did, and Strickland said he wouldn't criticize them for it.
Both Ohio GOP Chairman Bob Bennett and Kevin DeWine, the deputy GOP state chairman, as well as Sen. David Goodman, R-New Albany, chairman of the Judiciary Committee on Civil Justice, said Dann should resign.
Dann led the charge less than a year and a half ago when Democrats roared into power in the wake of the Tom Noe-Gov. Bob Taft Republican scandals, but that seems like light years ago now.
The possibility of an independent investigation was not all that could prolong the scandal for Dann and the Democrats.
State Rep. William Batchelder, R-Medina, a former state appellate judge, said Dann could be the subject of an investigation by the Ohio Supreme Court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which oversees the conduct of judges and lawyers.
Also, the Ohio Constitution gives the House the power to impeach an attorney general for any "misdemeanor" and it's pretty much up to the House to define what a misdemeanor is, said Batchelder.
Talk of impeachment is premature, however, pending an independent investigation, he added.
Contact this reporter at (614) 224-1608 or whershey@DaytonDaily
News.com.
