Recordpub.com - Independent investigation eyed for Dann impeachment Lawmakers united in call for attorney general to quit

By Marc Kovac

Record-Courier Capital Bureau

COLUMBUS -- A timely independent investigation or coordination of now-separate investigations into activities at the Ohio Attorney General's Office would assist lawmakers in determining whether to proceed with articles of impeachment against Marc Dann, the Speaker of the House told reporters Wednesday.

That process also would build confidence in the outcome, whether it involves a formal attempt to remove the Democratic office-holder from his elected seat or otherwise, said Jon Husted, a Republican from Kettering,

"Without having a mechanism to gather that information and to put that information together, we are at a distinct disadvantage in being able to make a responsible decision," he said following Wednesday's floor session, which included standard business but no mention or the impeachment threat.

But lawmakers appear to remain mostly united in their call for Dann to either resign from office or face impeachment.

"I don't think that we'd be spending this kind of time if we weren't seriously thinking about being ready to do the impeachment," said House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, a Democrat from the Columbus area. "Every one of us and members on both sides of the aisle have called for the attorney general's resignation. ... I don't see us in any different position than we were in a few days ago."

Lawmakers continued their cautious approach to impeachment Wednesday.

Husted asked Rep. William Batchelder, a Republican from Medina, to review the impeachment process and determine how the House would move forward. Beatty subsequently named three lawmakers from her caucus -- Reps. Jennifer Garrison from Marietta, Mark Okey from Carrollton and Dan Dodd from Hebron -- to lead the Democrats' exploratory efforts. All three are attorneys.

"The speaker and I both agree that we wanted to make sure that we get this right, if we find ourselves at that point," Beatty said. "I don't think we can do something without knowing and being certain that we have the process correct."

Husted told reporters Tuesday that he expected some guidance on the process by the end of the week. As of Wednesday, Batchelder told reporters he had reviewed the investigation report issued by the Attorney General's Office, as well as the transcripts of Dann's testimony.

"So far, I have not seen anything that is clearly, on the words of the constitution, impeachable," Batchelder said. "That doesn't mean that the House can't work its will."

Husted said one challenge lawmakers face in making a determination on impeachment relates to investigations into the matter involving the state auditor, inspector general, Ohio Highway Patrol, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and any independent investigator.