COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland and other Democratic leaders are calling on the state's scandal-scarred attorney general to resign. Attorney General Marc Dann admitted Friday to having an extramarital affair with a subordinate. The admission came after findings in an unrelated sexual harassment investigation threatened to reveal the relationship.Strickland, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Dann's fellow Democratic state officeholders and all Democratic state legislators sent Dann a letter Monday imploring him to leave office.
"We've got your back, there, brother Dann . . . here, take this loaded revolver and this bottle of cheap whiskey and go ponder your career path, OK?"
Dann is just 16 months into his four-year term. He hasn't yet responded to the letter.
To judge from an e-mail that Dann sent to the employees of the AG's office, his response will not be in the affirmative.
Every major newspaper in the state except for his hometown Youngstown Vindicator has called on him to resign.
Oh, and his troubles are just beginning:
In addition to the various inquiries about the sexual-harassment complaints filed against one of Dann's subordinates (and former housemates), investigators are looking into his office's use of state credit cards, computers, and vehicles, and state Republicans may file an Ohio Election Commission complaint alleging misuse of campaign funds to pay for Dann's condo.
Note: if Dann resigns before the end of September, there will be a special election in November to fill the unexpired term. If he holds out to October, the governor will get to appoint a replacement to serve out the term.
