Governor’s aides worked to pressure Dann resignation

COLUMBUS (AP) — Gov. Ted Strickland’s legal aides worked behind the scenes to pressure fellow Democrat Marc Dann to resign as attorney general, a newspaper reported Saturday.

Strickland aides prepared a legal case against Dann, who resigned amid a sexual harassment investigation into his office. The Columbus Dispatch obtained internal documents and correspondence that detailed the extent to which Strickland’s aides worked to oust Dann.

“The intent was to outline a very well-reasoned and strong case for impeachment,” Strickland spokesman Keith Dailey said.

Strickland’s chief legal counsel Kent Markus and his staff collaborated with House Democrats to organize reasons to impeach the first-term attorney general. According to documents, Strickland’s lawyers prepared to argue that Ohio law would allow an impeachment for misconduct — even though Dann maintained he broke no laws.

Strickland’s lawyers also were prepared to outline what they called a “gross neglect of duty.”

Dann resigned his post on May 14, just 17 months into a four-year term. He and fellow Democrats spent a tense 10 days in a standoff, with top members of his party demanding he step down.

Read more in Sunday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com