State accuses Dann and campaign staffers of violating law

YOUNGSTOWN — The Ohio Secretary of State has filed a complaint against ex-Attorney General Marc Dann, his deputy campaign treasurer and former campaign treasurer accusing them of violating state campaign finance law.

The campaign is accused of improperly spending $40,610.28 on a security system at his Liberty house as well as paying at least $4,368.63 for cell phones that Dann, his wife and children used for calls not related to the campaign.

Donald J. McTigue, Dann’s attorney, said he’s “confident that the two sets of expenditures were entirely proper and lawful and that the elections commission will agree.”

When the secretary of state’s office first investigated Dann’s campaign finances in May, it questioned dozens of expenditures.

Dann’s campaign explained them all, McTigue said. But the secretary of state’s office wasn’t satisfied with the answers related to the security system and the cell phones.

Dann resigned under pressure May 14 after an internal attorney general investigation concluded the office was filled with cronyism and promoted a hostile work environment.

For the complete story, read Friday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com