2008 Woodie Awards
Attorney general won't step down amid rumors
By: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: State
COLUMBUS - Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann wielded his office's legal might yesterday to support protecting the jobs of workers who file sexual harassment claims against their superiors, even as a pair of such claims are daily unraveling his own administration.
Dann, a Youngstown Democrat, took the lead among attorneys general from 19 states and Puerto Rico in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that employers can't retaliate against an employee involved in an employer's investigation of sexual harassment.
The case, Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, comes at an ironic moment - as sexual harassment allegations by two Dann staffers are being investigated against Anthony Gutierrez, a friend and former roommate of Dann's whom the women describe as treating them with vulgar and threatening language and behavior.
A conclusion to the internal investigation into Gutierrez's actions is expected as early as this week.
Dann has removed himself from the probe, and has placed both Gutierrez and another aide and former roommate at the same condo, Leo Jennings III, on paid leave. Dann has not disclosed what information led him to place Jennings on leave, and neither man has discussed the case publicly.
Yesterday Dann told reporters he has never thought of resigning.
"That's just ridiculous. I'm doing a great job for the people of the state of Ohio," Dann said. "Absolutely, it never crossed my mind."
Gov. Ted Strickland, a fellow Democrat, said yesterday that any discussion about Dann belongs in the "court of public opinion."
"Being attorney general was a result of a vote of the people. So I think it would be hugely inappropriate of me to say he should resign. I know of no reason for him to resign, so of course I would not say I think he should resign," Strickland said.
Dann, a Youngstown Democrat, took the lead among attorneys general from 19 states and Puerto Rico in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule that employers can't retaliate against an employee involved in an employer's investigation of sexual harassment.
The case, Crawford v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, comes at an ironic moment - as sexual harassment allegations by two Dann staffers are being investigated against Anthony Gutierrez, a friend and former roommate of Dann's whom the women describe as treating them with vulgar and threatening language and behavior.
A conclusion to the internal investigation into Gutierrez's actions is expected as early as this week.
Dann has removed himself from the probe, and has placed both Gutierrez and another aide and former roommate at the same condo, Leo Jennings III, on paid leave. Dann has not disclosed what information led him to place Jennings on leave, and neither man has discussed the case publicly.
Yesterday Dann told reporters he has never thought of resigning.
"That's just ridiculous. I'm doing a great job for the people of the state of Ohio," Dann said. "Absolutely, it never crossed my mind."
Gov. Ted Strickland, a fellow Democrat, said yesterday that any discussion about Dann belongs in the "court of public opinion."
"Being attorney general was a result of a vote of the people. So I think it would be hugely inappropriate of me to say he should resign. I know of no reason for him to resign, so of course I would not say I think he should resign," Strickland said.
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