Is Winters the right choice?
Is Winter’s a good choice after all or will things continue as they were?
What did Winters know, and when?
Acting attorney general had some knowledge of wrongdoing, sources say
Thomas R. Winters took charge as Ohio’s acting attorney general today, still dogged by — and refusing to answer questions about — his possible knowledge of the sexual-harassment allegations that brought down his former boss, Marc Dann.
Winters, 58, is not accused of any misconduct. However, sources and transcripts of sworn interviews with office employees suggest that Winters had at least some knowledge of wrongdoing by fired Dann aide Anthony Gutierrez last year and took no action.
Shortly after taking office in 2007, Dann hired Winters as his top legal aide and paid him nearly $150,000 a year.
Winters fired Gutierrez and Dann’s communication director, Leo Jennings III, and forced the resignation of top nonlegal aide Edgar C. Simpson in the aftermath of a scathing internal report on the sexual-harassment charges.
Dann gave Winters power to discipline and fire those employees because the harassment charges cut close to Dann, who had lived with Gutierrez and Jennings in a Dublin-area condominium where some of the misconduct occurred.
As the neutral arbiter, Winters minimized his own role in the affair. But sworn interviews conducted as part of the investigation show that Winters was not completely out of the loop:
Charlie Rosol, Gutierrez’s deputy, said he believed that Winters had been aware of Gutierrez’s misuse of state vehicles. Gutierrez crashed a state-owned SUV last October. Rosol did not say that Winters took any action in response.
Human-resources chief Stephanie Bostos Demers said the two employees who accused Gutierrez of sexual harassment, Vanessa Stout and Cindy Stankoski, came to her in early March to make verbal complaints. Under the office’s policy since January, accusers do not need to put allegations in writing in order to trigger an investigation. But Winters said there was “no, quote, formal complaint” until the women put something in writing, Demers said.
In addition, Winters has acknowledged other knowledge of the situation last year:
During the May 2 news conference in which the office’s report on the sexual-harassment complaints was made public, Winters confirmed that he had nixed Dann scheduler Jessica Utovich’s participation in an overseas trip with Dann last June. Dann later admitted an affair with Utovich and acknowledged that it may have contributed to an atmosphere of tolerance for sexual misconduct.
Winters said he heard other unspecified rumors but could not take action because he was in charge of the office’s legal operations, not its human-resources functions.
“Any office anywhere has a lot of rumors,” Winters said.
On May 4, The Dispatch requested correspondence between Winters and the human-resources office in the last four months of 2007. The attorney general’s office has not yet released any correspondence sought under that public-records request.
Winters, for his part, isn’t talking.
Spokesman Jim Gravelle released a statement today in which he said Winters is prohibited from commenting because the questions “go directly to issues probably being investigated and which could be the subject of litigation.”
Alleged Threat Made Against Attorney General Employee
One day after Marc Dann resigns as Ohio Attorney Geneal, one of the women who initiated the sexual harassment investigation in his office is allegedly threatened. Cindy Stankoski’s attorney Rex Elliott tells 21 News that the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a call made to the Columbus Office.
More >>> Here
The Tribune’s time line on Marc Dann
A more detailed look at Marc Dann’s political path.
Dann’s career
POSTED: May 15, 2008
1980-1984 — Attends the University of Michigan, earning a degree in history.
1984 — Attends Case Western Reserve University School of Law; works on the presidential campaign of Colorado Sen. Gary Hart.
1986 — Regional director for Hands Across America.
1987 — Assistant attorney general for the State of West Virginia.
1991 — Becomes a founding partner of Betras and Dann law firm.
1998 — Serves as the statewide campaign manager for Mary Boyle’s U.S. Senate bid; co-directs a grassroots effort to keep General Motors Corp. plants in Lordstown.
1999 — Starts his own legal practice as Marc Dann and Associates; wins his fifth Northeastern Ohio Legal Services award for thousands of hours of pro-bono legal work.
2000 — Runs for Ohio Senate 32nd District. Among his campaign platforms are openness and accountability for politicians. Finishes third for Democratic nomination behind Timothy J. Ryan and then-Howland Township Trustee Darlene St. George.
2001 — Elected to the Liberty Board of Education, citing experience as vice president of the Liberty Little Leopards, the Liberty Soccer Boosters, Hoops Club and the Anti-Defamation League.
2002 — Tries for the state Senate again when Ryan vacates the 32nd District following his victory for the 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate Democrats elect Dann, one of 14 people who expressed interest in the vacated seat.
2004 — Rages in the Senate that Ohio soldiers in Iraq have a shortage of body armor that can stop an AK-47 bullet, and promises to attach his $3 million body armor plan as an amendment to every bill that came up on the floor or in a committee. The armor shortage is solved about a month later, a general from the Ohio Adjutant General’s Office testifies before a Senate committee.
n Wins re-election to a full term in the state Senate.
2005 — Leads his party’s investigation into the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation investment in rare coins, which would be come to be known as ‘‘Coingate.’’ The investigation leads to rare-coin dealer Tom Noe being found guilty of crimes involving theft of bureau money he was supposed to have been managing as an investment. Noe was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
n In November, announces his intention to run for Ohio attorney general.
2006 — Beats Republican nominee Betty Montgomery for Ohio attorney general.
n Backs Capri Cafaro for his vacant 32nd District state Senate seat, and she is appointed.
2007 — Is sworn in as attorney general in January. He issues a legal opinion backing Gov. Ted Strickland’s decision to veto an anti-consumer bill that would have protected companies that sold lead-based paint and limited damages in consumer lawsuits.
n In April, fires aide Ric Alli for remaining on the payroll of the Youngstown Police Department after taking his post in the attorney general’s office.
n In May, part-time Dann driver David Nelson is fired after a federal agency uncovers that he pleaded guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter in 1975.
n In June, announces he will research ‘‘skill-based’’ games that offer cash prizes to determine if they are illegal gambling machines. The games are outlawed in October.
n Forbes Magazine predicts that Dann could blossom into the next Eliot Spitzer, whose experience as an attorney general led him to the New York governor’s mansion. Spitzer resigns in March 2008 after his extramarital affair with a high-priced escort is revealed.
n Announces that 10 cases would be prosecuted under the state’s predatory lending law. ‘‘I want to hold accountable all the people who caused pain,’’ Dann says.
2008 — In February, campaign finance reports reveals that Dann used more than $18,000 in campaign money to install a security system at his Liberty home.
n In April, puts aide Anthony Gutierrez on leave after sexual harassment allegations surface. The allegations eventually lead to Dann’s announcement that he had been romantically involved with a staff member.
n Tuesday, state Democrats move to impeach Dann.
n Wednesday, Dann resigns his post.
Sources: Campaign questionnaires and Tribune Chronicle archives
Marc Dann finally resigns
Marc Dann Announces Resignation
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For nearly two weeks, Attorney General Marc Dann has been fighting calls for his resignation, stating that he wants to go back to work for the people of Ohio. On Wednesday, Dann succumbed to the immense pressure to resign, announcing he will step down from his position, effective immediately.
State officials began seeking Dann’s resignation after a scandal inside his office that resulted in the firing of two top aides amid a sexual harassment investigation.
The announcement was made during a news conference held by Dann and Gov. Ted Strickland late Wednesday afternoon.
Immediately after making his statement, Dann left the news conference without taking any questions.
Gov. Strickland said Dann, “did the honorable thing by resigning today. We are pleased that he has tendered his resignation.”
According to Strickland, First Assistant Attorney General Tom Winters will assume authority of Attorney General until Strickland appoints an interim Attorney General. He said he has not yet decided on a replacement.
When asked what he was looking for in the next attorney general, Strickland replied, “maturity.”
When asked about Lt. Governor Lee Fisher as a possible replacement, Strickland said he would consider Fisher for any important position.
Strickland said neither he nor his office made any sort of deal with Dann in exchange for his resignation.
A Noon news conference was originally scheduled on Wednesday, but the event was canceled and no announcement was made.
There was wide speculation on Tuesday that Dann would announce his resignation, but his office issued several statements, saying that Dann would continue to do his job.
House democrats filed nine articles of impeachment against Dann on Tuesday, outlining why he should be impeached, including gross neglect of duties and making misleading statements under oath.
Also on Tuesday, Gov. Strickland signed Senate Bill 3, which amended state law to allow the inspector general’s office to look into the attorney general’s office. Before the bill’s passing, the inspector general could only investigate state agencies and the governor’s office.
Marc Dann has resigned as Attorney General effective immediately
Marc Dann has resigned as the Attorney General effective immediately.
We’ll have the complete statement as soon as possible.
This however is only the beginning since there will be extensive investigations.
Statements at 4:45 p.m.
What do we have here?
Strickland, Dann To Make Public Statements
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A news conference was scheduled for Attorney General Marc Dann on Wednesday, but the event was later canceled. Now, Gov. Ted Strickland and Dann will make statements and address the media at 4:45 p.m. at the Statehouse.
Representatives from Dann’s office said on Wednesday morning that he was expected to make a statement around Noon, but the news conference was in limbo and then NBC 4 learned that it was canceled.
Spokesman Jim Gravelle told NBC 4’s Lauren Diedrich that Dann “still views this as a political situation.”
When asked if Wednesday’s event would be Dann’s final press conference, spokesman Jason Stanford said, “that is entirely within the realm of possibility.”
Media outlets were told that attendance at the news conference was “mandatory.”
For nearly two weeks, Dann has been fighting calls for his resignation — brought on by the scandal inside his own office.
Two top aides were fired amid a sexual harassment investigation — and two others resigned. Dann also admitted to having an affair with a staffer.
There was much speculation on Tuesday that Dann would announce his resignation, but he has remained steady in his decision to continue as attorney general.
Is it the type “T” or “D” personality?
It’s the “type d” personality causing the issue, the type d personality would be the type dumbass indiviudal.
Risky business
Monday, May 12, 2008
By JOE HALLETT and JONATHAN RISKIND
Dann, others seek thrills and power, analysts speculate
Attorney General Marc Dann says he won’t resign and doesn’t deserve to be impeached because the pain he is enduring for a scandal of his own making is punishment enough.
“This has been agonizing — personally, politically, in every way you can personally imagine,” the married father of three said May 2 when he admitted that his affair with an employee may have contributed to a culture of sexual harassment in the attorney general’s office.
History is rife with politicians who would understand what Dann is going through, from former President Clinton, to the late Ohio congressman Wayne Hays, to disgraced former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer.
And always, their constituents are left wondering: Why do politicians risk everything for a fling?
Although there is no evidence that politicians engage in infidelity at a rate higher than the general populace, the risk of getting caught and publicly exposed is far greater in an age when everyone seems to have a cell phone camera and the 24-hour media constantly need to be fed.
And because politicians survive on the voters’ trust, the consequences generally are far more severe for them than for people in other walks of life.
“When you ask the question, ‘Why do they do this?’ it’s more a question of why don’t they stop themselves,” said Jon A. Krosnick, associate director of the Institute for Research in the Social Sciences at Stanford University. “I think it has to be a sense of invulnerability.”
Sensational sex scandals involving politicians over the years have prompted experts in psychology and politics to study if there are common traits among those who engage in risky behavior. Turns out, there are.
“Politicians tend to be higher in the need for power or dominance, are more prone to social desirability pressures, for example to present positive images of themselves, and are more self-confident,” said Kathleen McGray, an expert in political psychology at Ohio State University.
“The higher self confidence may account for engaging in stupid behavior when they have so much to lose, because they are confident they will get away with it. Dann still seems confident he will survive all of this.”
Frank Farley, a Temple University professor who has studied risk-taking and politics, coined a much quoted personality trait he said is common for many politicians — “the Type-T personality.” The “T” stands for “thrill value.”
Politicians, Farley said, “want an exciting life. They came into politics because it’s exciting.”
But it also is fraught with uncertainty, especially lack of job security. As a result, Farley said, politicians tend to be risk-takers, with plenty of self-confidence and energy, driven by a need for public approval and affection, often believing “their fate lies in their hands.”
Farley said politicians also are more prone than most people to be exposed to sexual temptation: “They have more opportunities for sexual infidelity than a lot of people. They keep running into people who are supporters who are emotional about them. They travel quite a bit, they’re out on the hustings. So, opportunities can arise.”
Should Marc Dann be impeached? Yes
I guess after having read some of the articles from papers of record across the state could it be that as citizen’s we’re to merely accept the breech of trust that was given to this dirty old man when he won the election for the AG’s office?
Should Marc Dann be impeached? Yes
By Alan Johnson
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Thursday, May 8, 2008 3:24 AM
The impeachment case against Attorney General Marc Dann begins with this premise: It’s not about the affair.
From Gov. Ted Strickland on down, Democrats supporting the call for Dann to resign very quickly made it clear that impeachment, if it becomes necessary, will be about the totality of improprieties in Dann’s 16-month tenure, such as misfeasance or malfeasance in office.
“There are a range of considerations that go well beyond, and in my judgment, are much, much more serious, than any personal relationship that may have occurred between the attorney general and someone else,” Strickland said.
The potential grounds for impeachment are:
• A hostile work environment.
The case against Dann will be built, in part, on his contribution to or tolerance of a “hostile work environment,” the magic words in sexual-harassment litigation.
“He is directly responsible for creating the hostile work environment,” said Rex Elliott, the Columbus attorney representing Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, the two attorney general employees whose sexual harassment complaints set the investigation in motion.
“By his behavior, he sent a message to his office that that was perfectly acceptable … His conduct goes far beyond a morality issue.”
In his tense, hour-long news conference Friday, Dann acknowledged that his behavior might have set an example that contributed to misdeeds by Anthony Gutierrez, his deposed director of general services.
-
Links
-
Categories
-
Archives
-
Meta
Poll
Loading ...