No place to run, No place to hide
No limits on Dann probe
10-plus agencies collaborating, inspector says
Ohio Inspector General Thomas P. Charles says the focus of his investigation of former Attorney General Marc Dann is simple: “everything and anything.”
Charles and a diverse task force involving 10 or more state and federal agencies will probe a broad range of issues, some of them potentially criminal, in a one-of-a-kind investigation authorized by the legislature and approved by Gov. Ted Strickland this week.
“We have no agenda other than to do this right and do it fair,” Charles said. “We’ll leave the chips fall where they may.
“Everybody is on board. There aren’t going to be a bunch of separate investigations.”
Charles briefed reporters yesterday, a day after the investigation began with Wednesday’s shock-and-awe raid on Dann’s offices in Columbus and Youngstown. Computers, telephones, other electronic devices and what Charles called “a lot” of documents were seized. Dann’s computer, BlackBerry and state vehicle, a Chevy Suburban, were seized.
Reportedly stunned by the raid, Dann, 46, a Democrat elected in 2006, resigned Wednesday after 5 1/2 weeks of intense scrutiny over sexual-harassment complaints and allegations of cronyism and mismanagement in his office. He was attorney general less than 17 months.
The emergency legislation empowers the inspector general to head the investigation just this once. Charles’ agency is normally limited to investigating those agencies under the governor’s control.
The far-reaching bill tells Charles to “investigate the management and operation of the office of the attorney general to determine whether misconduct or wrongful acts or omissions have been or are being committed by the attorney general or by present or former employees or contractors with that office.” He is to report his findings to the governor and legislative leaders.
The investigators
These state and federal agencies are expected to be part of the investigation of the attorney general’s office under Marc Dann:
• Ohio auditor
• Department of Administrative Services
• Ohio Elections Commission
• Ohio Ethics Commission
• Ohio inspector general
• State Highway Patrol
• Secretary of state
• Franklin County prosecutor
• FBI
• Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• Other federal agencies as needed
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[...] Joslyn wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOhio auditor. • Department of Administrative Services. • Ohio Elections Commission. • Ohio Ethics Commission. • Ohio inspector general. • State Highway Patrol. • Secretary of state. • Franklin County prosecutor … [...]