Blacked-out portions of Simpson report indicate one-time Joplin Globe editor is key in pursuit of charges against former Ohio attorney general

Twenty-seven pages of blacked out information in an Ethics Commission report indicate one-time Joplin Globe Editor Edgar Simpson is a key in Ohio officials' efforts to bring charges against former Attorney General Marc Dann:

What is blacked out in Simpson’s investigation report by the Ohio Ethics Commission is as interesting as what is included. The commission blacks out information about people they’re investigating who haven’t yet been charged with crimes.

On Page 11 of Simpson’s 39-page report, there’s a category called “complicity in having an unlawful interest in a public contract/conflict of interest.” There is one paragraph with names blacked out followed by nearly 27 pages under that category that are blacked out.

But on Page 3 there is a sentence that spells out the complicity and conflict of interest.

“In addition, the investigation revealed that Simpson used the authority and influence of his position to aid and abet Alyssa Lenhoff, wife of the attorney general, in seeking and obtaining grant funds from the office of attorney general on behalf of her employer, Youngstown State University.”

Simpson pleaded guilty March 4 to a misdemeanor, failing to disclose income on a required state ethics form, and was fined $1,000.