State inspector’s report slams spending, conduct under Dann’s leadership

COLUMBUS — Former Attorney General Marc Dann used campaign contributions as a “personal honey pot” for everyday living expenses, including security improvements to his home, food and cell phones for his wife and children.

And Anthony Gutierrez, Leo Jennings and others who were implicated in the scandal that led to Dann’s resignation earlier this year, participated in the spending spree and misuse of state resources.

That’s according to a report released Monday by the state’s Inspector General, who for months has been investigating Dann’s administration and campaign financing. The lengthy findings include cronyism and “hiring missteps,” sexual harassment and other improper activities and wrongdoing under Dann’s leadership.

Investigators found the actual working environment under Dann “to be even more unprofessional and dysfunctional than was reported.”

“As a young and promising politician, Marc Dann had a meteoric rise, improbably upsetting former Attorney General Betty Montgomery in 2006,” according to the report. “Following his election, he installed several unqualified and incompetent supervisors in key management positions. In turn, those people helped Dann turn the office of the ‘people’s lawyer’ into a house of scandal. ...

“Regrettably, Marc Dan used his position as Attorney General to indulge himself, his family and his friends. By tapping these easily available contributions, which were given to him by more-than-willing interested outside parties, he supplemented his statutory wage from the state of Ohio and used the money to pay personal expenses that had no relation to his office or his campaign. In light of our findings in this case, it is clear that independent oversight of the Attorney General — a powerful position — and his office is necessary.”

Read more in Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com