The woes of the Ohio Republican Party just continue to snowball.
Ohio Governor Bob Taft [official website] was charged Wednesday with criminal misdemeanors for failing to acknowledge nearly 70 golf outings and other favors. The charges stem from a two-month investigation by a task force of Ohio authorities and come three months after Taft stressed at a conference the importance of ethical behavior for public employees. Taft released records earlier this month showing he had accepted invitations to 21 golf events since 1999. They included a 2001 outing with Taft associate and struggling coin dealer Tom Noe [AP report], whose $50 million investment of state money in rare coins began the scandal that led to Taft’s disclosure. Earlier this year former Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland [archived official website] began a year-long sentence [JURIST report] for corruption of office after accepting gifts. Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said Taft will probably have to appear in court Thursday. The Columbus Dispatch has more.
From the Columbus Dispatch:
If convicted on the first-degree misdemeanor charges, Taft faces a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to six months in jail on each count.
Taft, 63, the great-grandson of William Howard Taft, the only American to serve as president and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, made history on his own: He is the first Ohio governor to face criminal charges while in office.
It’s important that we keep pointing out the ethical challenges of Rowland, Taft, DeLay, Cunningham, Hastert, and the rest of the bastards.
