COLUMBUS, Ohio—Ohio’s secretary of state filed a complaint Thursday with the Ohio Elections Commission claiming former Attorney General Marc Dann misspent about $45,000 in campaign funds.
The complaint filed by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner accuses Dann of violating campaign finance law by spending $40,610 from his campaign on security improvements to his personal residence.
Brunner also accuses Dann using campaign funds to pay $4,368 in charges for five cellular phones used for a mixture of campaign activity and personal uses by the candidate and his family.
Dann resigned in May amid a sexual harassment scandal in his office. He said Thursday night that he will prove to the elections commission that the allegations by Brunner, a Democrat, are wrong.
“Part of the allegations they made are false and the rest of them have no allegations in law,“ said Dann, also a Democrat. “We are going to vigorously litigate this issue and win.“
Dann said many of the issues addressed in the complaint have been done “appropriately by other officials in their campaigns.“
Dann said the state had been spending tens of thousands of dollars a month on personnel to provide him with security. He said he was advised by lawyers to use campaign money instead of taxpayer money to make the home upgrades.
Security experts with the attorney general’s office and the Ohio State Highway Patrol agreed that the security equipment should be installed, he said.
He said he also followed the law and the advice of counsel regarding cell phone expenditures.
Dann said he had been working with Brunner’s office and thought most of the issues had been resolved.
“This office filed the complaint after reviewing all relevant information,“ said Brunner spokesman Jeff Ortega, who declined further comment Thursday night.
Philip Richter, executive director of the Ohio Elections Commission, said the complaint will be addressed by the commission Jan. 22, and that all parties involved will be notified and given time to file responses.
Dann’s resignation followed sexual harassment allegations by female subordinates against his top aides and Dann’s admission to an extramarital affair with an employee. He had won election in 2006 as part of the Democratic party’s near sweep of statewide offices long held by Republicans. |
