Ohio attorney general admits to affair

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s attorney general admitted an extramarital affair with an employee yesterday, soon after three of his aides were fired or forced out because an investigation found evidence of sexual harassment and other misconduct.

Leaders of both political parties were critical of Attorney General Marc Dann, one of several Democrats swept into office in 2006 after a scandal over state investments sullied Republicans. He apologized to his wife and supporters but said he would not step down.

“I’m embarrassed. I have taken responsibility for what I’ve done,” he told reporters.

Mr. Dann had lived with two of the aides at an apartment during much of his first year in office and some of the purported harassment by one of the aides occurred there.

“I did not create an atmosphere in my public and personal life that is consistent with the important mission of the Office of Attorney General,” Mr. Dann said. “I am heartbroken by my failure to recognize the problems being created and by my failure to stop them.”

Ohio Republican Party Deputy Chairman Kevin DeWine called for Mr. Dann’s resignation, saying he had turned the attorney general’s office into a “raunchy frat pad.”

Democratic Gov. Ted Strickland said the investigation showed a “double standard” with Mr. Dann staying while some employees were let go.

Mr. Dann, 46, and married, refused to disclose the name of the employee. He said the relationship took place during a difficult time in his marriage, but that it “was wrong and I deeply regret it.”

Mr. Dann’s scheduler, Jessica Utovich, with whom he had a close relationship in which they often used profanity, nicknames and teasing when e-mailing each other, resigned voluntarily, said Tom Winters, first assistant attorney general. He did not give a reason.

When interviewed for the sexual harassment investigation conducted by assistant attorneys general, Mr. Dann said Miss Utovich stayed overnight at an apartment he shared with the two aides for a variety of reasons that he would not discuss. During her interview, Miss Utovich would not say whether she ever stayed overnight at the apartment.

Miss Utovich and Mr. Dann’s wife, Alyssa Lenhoff, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

Both aides Mr. Dann lived with were fired after the results of the investigation were released yesterday. Investigators found that Anthony Gutierrez, who led Mr. Dann’s general services office, violated sexual harassment policy, and Leo Jennings, Mr. Dann’s former communications chief, is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath.

Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Mr. Dann’s policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior. Mr. Simpson had knowledge of Mr. Gutierrez’s history of policy violations, the investigation report said.

Mr. Dann got into state politics as an appointed state senator with a small private law office, and became the face of the Democrats’ charge against a scandal over state investments that contributed to the Ohio GOP’s devastating election losses in 2006. He defeated a better known and more experienced Republican.