Marc Dann
Posted at 5:44pm on May 14, 2008 Ohio AG Marc Dann resigns
Pressured out by his own party
By Kevin Holtsberry
It seems that Marc Dann finally realized that the gig was up and he couldn't hang on:
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann resigned this afternoon, just hours after the inspector general’s office launched a raid on his office.
The embattled Democrat made the announcement in a joint appearance with Gov. Ted Strickland in the governor’s cabinet room, next to his Statehouse office. The governor called it a “sad day” for Ohio but said he is “pleased” Dann quit.
It's up to Strickland to appoint a successor until Ohioans vote in November on someone to fill out the final two years of Dann’s term. Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher has been among those mentioned as a possible successor.
Dann’s decision comes after a week and-a-half of increasing pressure to get Dann out of office, and a little more than five weeks after The Dispatch revealed sexual harassment complaints by two women employees against their supervisor in the attorney general's office, a longtime Dann friend.
Investigators descended on Dann’s offices in the Rhodes Tower shortly after 11 this morning, defying Dann’s legal arguments that they had no right to investigate his office.
The situation is thick with irony. Dann was one of the loudest critics of former Governor Bob Taft and hammered Ohio Republicans on the so called "culture of corruption" theme over and over. Surprised when his tactics worked, he found himself elected to a critical statewide office lacking the competence and leadership skills to do the job.
Now he finds himself forced to resign after articles of impeachment were filled against him by his own party and his office was searched by the inspector general in the aftermath of revelations that his office was rife with sexual harassment and improper relationships; including an affair between Dann and his scheduler. All Taft did was play golf with friends and fill out some paperwork wrong!
That old adage that you need to be loved or feared is applicable here. Dann's bombastic style and lack of judgment alienated even fellow Democrats. Lacking power or friends he soon found himself without a political card to play.
Ohio Democrats appreciate the fact that they have gained the power they have - they control four out of five statewide offices but the GOP controls the General Assembly - thanks to some screw ups by Republicans and an appearance of moderation and stability. There was no way they were going to let someone like Marc Dann put that at risk.
The netroots might take note that angry attack style politics is not how Democrats have found success in critical swing states. And if the party doesn't find you useful they will kick you to the curb without blinking an eye.
Posted in Marc Dann | Ohio | Scandal | State Politics — Comments (11)/ Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:17pm on May 13, 2008 Plain Dealer: OH AG Marc Dann to resign
By Kevin Holtsberry
UPDATE: Columbus Dispatch says he is trying to negotiate a deal:
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann apparently is trying to negotiate the terms of his resignation, adamant that a bill be killed authorizing Inspector General Thomas P. Charles to investigate the scandal in Dann's office.
Sources said Dann told a number of legislators that an investigation by Charles "would cause all sorts of problems for him and he offered to leave office if the bill is scotched.
All sorts of problems is right! Sounds like he would like to avoid any more investigation and legal repercussions.
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.
If Dann resigns Gov. Strickland would name a replacement to serve until a successor is elected this November.
Posted at 12:35pm on May 13, 2008 Ohio Dems Start Impeachment Against AG Dann
By Kevin Holtsberry
It seems lies and misleading statements related to sexual harassment charges are now an impeachable offense. Or at least Ohio Democrats think so:
House Democrats filed articles of impeachment this morning against Attorney General Marc Dann, charging him with nine counts relating to a sexual harassment scandal that has led to widespread calls for him to resign.
Posted in Impeachment | Marc Dann | OH | State Politics — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »
