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Dann: We did nothing wrong
YOUNGSTOWN
Facing an investigation into potential criminal charges against him and his wife, former Attorney General Marc Dann insists the couple did nothing wrong.
“No matter how long it takes, I am confident that when all the facts are fully understood that neither Alyssa [Lenhoff, his wife] nor I did any- thing inappropriate, let alone illegal,” Dann wrote in a Friday e-mail to The Vindicator.
Two of Dann’s former top officials — Edgar C. Simpson of The Plains, Ohio, chief of policy and administration, and Leo Jennings III of Poland, communications director — were found guilty of ethics charges Thursday in Franklin County Municipal Court.
Both received suspended jail sentences and agreed to cooperate in an ongoing investigation into criminal activity during the Dann administration. They would go to jail if they don’t cooperate.
David Freel, the executive director of the Ohio Ethics Commission, and Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Friday that the investigation into the Dann administration is continuing. They declined to discuss the details or identify the targets.
But Dann, a Democrat from Liberty, and Lenhoff are the only remaining names still under investigation who were listed on a December 2008 report by the commission about potential criminal conduct at the attorney general’s office. Three others have been convicted of criminal charges.
Dann is being investigated for the questionable use of his campaign fund and a transition account that raised money for the two months from the November 2006 election until January 2007 when he was sworn in as attorney general.
“All campaign expenditures that I had any role in authorizing were legitimate and legal,” Dann wrote in an e-mail in response to inquiries Friday by The Vindicator.
An investigation report by the ethics commission of Jennings, released Thursday, shows the two funds gave more than $75,000 for living expenses, consulting payments and/or other loans to Jennings and Anthony Gutierrez.
Jennings, Gutierrez and Dann lived together in a Columbus-area condominium.
Jennings pleaded guilty Thursday to “improper compensation” from the Dann funds and filing a false financial-disclosure report.
Gutierrez, Dann’s general services director, was convicted of six criminal counts including theft in office in November 2009. Gutierrez of Liberty cooperated with investigators in the cases against Jennings and Simpson.
Also, part of the investigation is related to Lenhoff’s involvement in attempting to secure a $6,500 grant from the attorney general’s office to fund a “cold case” course at Youngstown State University in which she would be an instructor. Lenhoff is YSU’s journalism director.
The report on the investigation of Simpson by the ethics commission, released Thursday, states: “Simpson used the authority and influence of his position to aid and abet” Lenhoff in seeking and obtaining attorney general funds on behalf of YSU, her employer.
“As far as I know, the grant was never funded,” Lenhoff wrote in an e-mail Friday to The Vindicator. “Also, I am and always have been eager to answer any questions that investigators may have. I am not aware of ever doing anything that violates any law and simply hope that this entire nightmare will finally be put to rest.”
Dann wrote: “It breaks my heart that after all I’ve put her through that she [has] been dragged into this.”
Dann had an extramarital affair with his then-scheduler while serving as attorney general.
Simpson, who worked with Lenhoff at the Tribune Chronicle in Warren, pleaded guilty Thursday to filing a false financial-disclosure statement for taking $1,122.50 from the two Dann funds.
Dann resigned in May 2008, 17 months into his term, accused of running an unprofessional office filled with cronyism and sexual harassment.