COLUMBUS, Ohio — The day started with scandal-plagued Attorney General Marc Dann offering to succumb to demands he resign, but only under certain conditions.
Rebuffed, Dann retreated, dug in his heels and by day’s end pledged to keep his post.
“The Attorney General has decided to continue doing his job,” said the one-line statement issued Tuesday by Dann’s spokesman Jason Stanford.
Dann, a Democrat, admitted May 2 to an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to sexual harassment claims against a top aide.
Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation that showed management encouraged a casual work environment with frequent profanity and inappropriate interactions with subordinates.
Democratic Rep. Robert Hagan and a spokeswoman fro Republican Senate President Bill Harris said Dann wanted a bill that allows the state watchdog to investigate his office to take effect in 90 days, instead of immediately after Gov. Ted Strickland signed it.
Lawmakers in both chambers approved the bill Tuesday and Strickland, a Democrat, signed it Tuesday evening. Earlier in the day, House Democrats also tried to start impeachment proceedings against Dann, only to be dismissed as moving too fast by the Republicans in power.
Regarding the investigation bill, Dann had asked Republican House Speaker Jon Husted in a phone call Tuesday to remove the measure requiring it to take effect immediately, but Husted refused, Hagan said.
Husted spokeswoman Karen Stivers confirmed that Dann made the call to Husted. Dann was upset over the developments, but no deal was made and the word “resignation” was not mentioned, she said.
At Dann’s request, Hagan said he asked Harris if he would remove the measure, but Harris also declined.
Harris spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski said the Senate president was not interested in cutting a deal with Dann.
Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller told The Columbus Dispatch that a resignation appeared forthcoming, but he did not say exactly when Dann was likely to step down.
“We were told it is very likely he is going to resign,” Democratic Sen. Teresa Fedor of Toledo told The Blade. “It’s just a matter of time.”
Dann was among four Democrats swept into statewide office in 2006 in the wake of a Republican scandal over state investments managed by a prominent GOP donor.
House Democrats had drafted nine articles of impeachment against Dann, ranging from allegations of gross immorality to obstructing the investigation into his office and making misleading statements.
The Democrats’ resolution, researched by three lawmakers, accused Dann of making misleading statements under oath and said he should have known his actions created a hostile work environment.
Husted ridiculed Democrats for what he called the “political act” of rashly filing impeachment articles to appear tough on a member of their own party.
Democrats need backing from Republicans who control the Legislature in order to send the impeachment charges to the Senate for a trial. Republicans first want the assistance of the inspector general before proceeding with impeachment, while Democrats believe their impeachment proposal is sufficient to move forward immediately.
If Dann resigns or is impeached, Strickland would appoint a successor. Voters would need to confirm Strickland’s pick at the polls on the same day they’ll vote for president, Nov. 4.
On Saturday, the Ohio Democratic Party stripped Dann of his endorsement, saying he can consider himself a Democrat but that the party would work against him if he seeks re-election.
Republicans would have a chance to capitalize on the scandal and seize the hard-won statewide post. Fisher, State Treasurer Richard Cordray and higher education Chancellor Eric Fingerhut have all been mentioned as possible replacements for Dann.
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