Marc Dann (D)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Legal Newsline)-The results of a six-month investigation into former Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann is set to be released today.
The report by state Inspector General Tom Charles will be released along with findings by state Auditor Mary Taylor, who probed how Dann's office used state funds.
The Democratic attorney general resigned in mid-May amid a sexual harassment scandal involving a top aide. Dann also admitted to an extramarital affair with a subordinate before stepping down.
The report comes ahead of a meeting of the Ohio Elections Commission, which plans to investigate claims that Dann used thousands of dollars in campaign funds for personal purposes, including family vacations and a $40,000 home security system.
Before leaving office, Dann was criticized in a 57-page internal report for encouraging an atmosphere that led to sexual harassment claims in his office.
"Management employees encouraged and tolerated a workplace atmosphere of frequent profanity, extremely casual and improper personal interactions with subordinates and a general lack of professionalism and respect," the report said.
Following Dann's resignation, Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland appointed Nancy Rogers to fill the post until January. State Treasurer Richard Cordray, a Democrat, won the Nov. 4 election for attorney general.
In a pre-election interview with Legal Newsline, Cordray said just as he was able to restore public confidence in how taxpayers' money was managed following financial scandals that rocked state government before he was elected treasurer, he would similarly restore public trust in the attorney general's office.
"In the attorney general's office ... I would go in there to continue the work done to clean the place up," Cordray said.
From Legal Newsline: Reach reporter Chris Rizo at chrisrizo@legalnewsline.com.