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Ohio Gov. Taft could be disbarred
COLUMBUS, OH, April 11 (UPI) -- The disciplinary counsel of the Ohio Supreme Court has filed a complaint that could lead to Gov. Robert Taft's reprimand or disbarment.
The complaint stems from Taft's no-contest plea in August to failing to disclose golf outings and other gifts from contractors doing business with the state, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Taft was fined $4,000 and repaid $5,700 in gifts.
"Improper conduct on the part of an attorney in government service is more likely to harm the entire system of government in terms of public trust," Disciplinary Counsel Jonathan Coughlan said.
Taft, a member of Ohio's best-known political family and a lawyer, is in his final year as governor. He is barred by state law from running for a third term.
He got caught up in a scandal involving Tom Noe, a major Republican donor and rare-coin dealer, who invested a state fund to pay worker's compensation claims in coins.
Mark Rickel, a spokesman for the governor, said that Taft hopes that the state Supreme Court will consider that his reporting failures were unintentional and that he alerted ethics officials to the situation himself.
COLUMBUS, OH, April 11 (UPI) -- The disciplinary counsel of the Ohio Supreme Court has filed a complaint that could lead to Gov. Robert Taft's reprimand or disbarment.
The complaint stems from Taft's no-contest plea in August to failing to disclose golf outings and other gifts from contractors doing business with the state, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Taft was fined $4,000 and repaid $5,700 in gifts.
"Improper conduct on the part of an attorney in government service is more likely to harm the entire system of government in terms of public trust," Disciplinary Counsel Jonathan Coughlan said.
Taft, a member of Ohio's best-known political family and a lawyer, is in his final year as governor. He is barred by state law from running for a third term.
He got caught up in a scandal involving Tom Noe, a major Republican donor and rare-coin dealer, who invested a state fund to pay worker's compensation claims in coins.
Mark Rickel, a spokesman for the governor, said that Taft hopes that the state Supreme Court will consider that his reporting failures were unintentional and that he alerted ethics officials to the situation himself.