Husted issues new subpoenas in probe of pot initiative

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The state’s elections chief issued new subpoenas Wednesday after withdrawing old ones as he continues to investigate the signature collection and ballot petition submission of a group backing a marijuana-legalization proposal.

The move by Secretary of State Jon Husted follows a federal lawsuit filed over his probe into ResponsibleOhio’s campaign.

Husted, a Republican, asked a special investigator in late July to review why significant numbers of petition signatures collected by ResponsibleOhio were invalid and some paper forms didn’t match electronic copies. If such discrepancies are a product of fraud, they are subject to criminal penalties up to a fifth-degree felony.