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Thursday, May 15, 2008
COLUMBUS — Marc Dann went from defiant to contrite, and after his once promising political career had been erased by scandal and investigation, he just went, exiting office after a short statement that barely touched on the events that brought him down.
Dann, 46, resigned as attorney general on Wednesday, May 14, with none of the bombast he brought to the office after being elected in November 2006. He spoke for less than three minutes before about 40 news reporters and cameramen in the governor's Statehouse Cabinet Room, then walked out without taking questions.
Attorney General Marc Dann (left) resigned Wednesday, May 14, in Columbus with Gov. Ted Strickland at his side."Twelve days ago I came before you to admit mistakes, to take responsibility and to announce steps toward giving the office of attorney general an administrative backbone worthy of the great legal work we were doing in the office," he said as Gov. Ted Strickland stood by his side. "I sincerely viewed it as my fiduciary responsibility to fix the problems on my watch, especially as it concerned my own actions. Unfortunately, it's now clear that the last step I must take to fix these problems is to resign as attorney general effective immediately."
By state law, the first assistant attorney general — Tom Winters — becomes the new attorney general until Strickland appoints someone else to serve until a special election is held in November. Dann hired Winters, 58, as his top legal aide on the first day of his administration.
Dann's resignation after only 17 months in office does not halt investigations by the Ohio Highway Patrol, Ohio Ethics Commission, federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or other agencies. It will, of course, stop a Democratic effort to impeach him.
The General Assembly and Strickland passed a law Tuesday giving state Inspector General Tom Charles the authority to investigate Dann and coordinate other probes that go beyond the sexual harassment allegations that led to an admission of an affair by Dann and resignations and firings of top aides in his administration.
Charles wasted no time. His investigators and the Ohio Highway Patrol seized computer hard drives and files from Dann's office on Wednesday morning.
"This embarrassment is far from over. Marc Dann's resignation is overdue, and the investigation into his mismanagement and corruption must continue," said Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine.
The Strickland administration refused suggestions from Dann's intermediaries to help him find a job, possibly in state government, said Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher, a former attorney general who has known Dann for 29 years. Fisher met with Dann twice in the last two days and said he was contrite and heartbroken.
For weeks Dann has stood defiantly, saying he wouldn't resign. Now, Strickland said he's not sure what is next for Dann.
"Marc told me that he was going back to Youngstown to be with his family," Strickland said. "I'm not sure what he may plan to do in the future, but I think in the short term he wants to be with his family."
