Ohio attorney general still hasn't resigned, but impeachment proceedings begin

While Ohio media outlets are trumpeting rumors of the impending departure of Attorney General Marc Dann, Dann still is in office, but perhaps not for long.

Impeachment proceedings against Dann, whose chief of staff, former Joplin Globe Editor Edgar Simpson, was forced to resign last week, began today, with legislation authorizing the state inspector general to open an investigation:

The bill passed the Ohio House early Tuesday and made its way through the Senate later in the day.

Gov. Ted Strickland signed the bill without comment hours later.

It followed a day of turmoil and intense negotiations at the Statehouse involving lawmakers and Dann’s future in office.

Fellow Democrats offered nine articles of impeachment, ranging from malfeasance for obstructing the investigation into sexual harassment of female employees in his office to gross neglect of duty for undermining the integrity of the office.

Dann snubbed Democrats and Republicans alike who called for his resignation.