CLEVELAND Special prosecutor assigned to bribery investigation

The official insists that the fund raising was legal.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- A judge appointed a special prosecutor to handle the investigation of whether a public official took a bribe from a former stockbroker.
Cuyahoga County Prosecutor William Mason stepped aside Friday from an investigation that links former stockbroker Frank Gruttadauria to Ohio Treasurer Joseph Deters' office. Gruttadauria is imprisoned on a federal conviction for defrauding investors out of $125 million.
Last month a county grand jury indicted Gruttadauria on various charges, including bribing a "public official." Mason has not identified the bribe target.
Gruttadauria, 46, tried using a bribe to get investment business from the state, Mason said previously. Gruttadauria is accused of funneling illegal campaign contributions from investor clients funds and through employees whose contributions were reimbursed.
Mason said at least $7,000 of such reportedly illegal contributions went to campaign funds for Deters. Deters has maintained that his fund raising was proper and legal.
Common Pleas Judge Richard McMonagle approved Mason's recommendation of Thomas Sammon as the special prosecutor. Sammon served 31 years in the county prosecutor's office before retiring two years ago.
"It is necessary that a special prosecutor be appointed so that he has the independence to investigate this matter so as to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, bias or prejudice," Mason wrote.
Deters is a Cincinnati Republican and candidate for Ohio attorney general in 2006. Mason, a Cleveland Democrat, is a possible attorney general candidate.