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By Julie Carr Smyth
Associated Press statehouse correspondent
POSTED: 01:30 p.m. EDT, May 02, 2008
COLUMBUS: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann said today he had an affair with an employee, and three advisers were forced out of their jobs in a scandal over sexual harassment allegations against an aide.
Dann said he will not resign even after an investigation scolded him for allowing a woman who claimed harassment by an aide to his apartment for drinks.
Dann took responsibility for the scandal and acknowledged that he was not prepared to be attorney general when he took office and not ready to take over an office of this size.
''I'm embarrassed. I have taken responsibility for what I've done,'' he said.
He called the affair consensual and said it came during a difficult time in his marriage. He said it was ''relationship that was wrong and I deeply regret it.''
He apologized to his wife and three children for the pain and embarrassment.
Dann would not disclose the employee's name.
Dann's scheduler, Jessica Utovich, with whom had had a close relationship in which they often used profanity, nicknames and teasing when e-mailing each other, also resigned voluntarily, said Tom Winters, first assistant attorney general. He did not give a reason.
When interviewed for the investigation conducted by his assistants, Dann said Utovich stayed overnight at an apartment he shared with two aides for a variety of reasons that he would not discuss. During her interview, Utovich refused to say whether she ever stayed overnight at the apartment.
The fallout is an especially painful blow to Dann because he has made his political name on fighting corruption. E-mails from the office and investigation interviews showed a casual work atmosphere, in which vulgarities and drinking were common.
Dann, Ohio's top law enforcer, removed himself from the investigation handled by his assistant attorneys general.
Anthony Gutierrez, who led Dann's general services office, was fired after the review found that he violated sexual harassment policy. He was accused by two women he supervised — Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26 — of making unwanted come-ons and vulgar remarks.
Also fired was Dann's communications chief Leo Jennings who is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath. Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Dann's policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior. Simpson had knowledge of Gutierrez's history of policy violations, the investigation report said.
Stankoski said she went to the apartment near Columbus shared by Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings for pizza and drinks. She said she fell asleep drunk at the condo and when she was awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and Gutierrez was lying next to her in his underwear.
When it was apparent Stankoski had too much to drink, arrangements should have been made to get her home, said the investigation.
Stout alleged that Gutierrez repeatedly asked her for sex, suggesting she ''owed'' him for helping her land a state job.
The investigation also found that Gutierrez violated policies that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The report detailed an incident where Gutierrez allegedly was drinking with other employees while driving a state vehicle.
The matter is now under investigation by the State Highway Patrol.
Messages left for Gutierrez's attorney, Sam Amendolara, and Jennings were not immediately returned.
COLUMBUS: Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann said today he had an affair with an employee, and three advisers were forced out of their jobs in a scandal over sexual harassment allegations against an aide.
Dann said he will not resign even after an investigation scolded him for allowing a woman who claimed harassment by an aide to his apartment for drinks.
Dann took responsibility for the scandal and acknowledged that he was not prepared to be attorney general when he took office and not ready to take over an office of this size.
''I'm embarrassed. I have taken responsibility for what I've done,'' he said.
He called the affair consensual and said it came during a difficult time in his marriage. He said it was ''relationship that was wrong and I deeply regret it.''
He apologized to his wife and three children for the pain and embarrassment.
Dann would not disclose the employee's name.
Dann's scheduler, Jessica Utovich, with whom had had a close relationship in which they often used profanity, nicknames and teasing when e-mailing each other, also resigned voluntarily, said Tom Winters, first assistant attorney general. He did not give a reason.
When interviewed for the investigation conducted by his assistants, Dann said Utovich stayed overnight at an apartment he shared with two aides for a variety of reasons that he would not discuss. During her interview, Utovich refused to say whether she ever stayed overnight at the apartment.
The fallout is an especially painful blow to Dann because he has made his political name on fighting corruption. E-mails from the office and investigation interviews showed a casual work atmosphere, in which vulgarities and drinking were common.
Dann, Ohio's top law enforcer, removed himself from the investigation handled by his assistant attorneys general.
Anthony Gutierrez, who led Dann's general services office, was fired after the review found that he violated sexual harassment policy. He was accused by two women he supervised — Cindy Stankoski and Vanessa Stout, both 26 — of making unwanted come-ons and vulgar remarks.
Also fired was Dann's communications chief Leo Jennings who is accused of trying to get a worker to lie when interviewed under oath. Investigators say Edgar Simpson, Dann's policy chief, was forced to resign for failing to address inappropriate behavior. Simpson had knowledge of Gutierrez's history of policy violations, the investigation report said.
Stankoski said she went to the apartment near Columbus shared by Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings for pizza and drinks. She said she fell asleep drunk at the condo and when she was awoke, her pants were unbuttoned and Gutierrez was lying next to her in his underwear.
When it was apparent Stankoski had too much to drink, arrangements should have been made to get her home, said the investigation.
Stout alleged that Gutierrez repeatedly asked her for sex, suggesting she ''owed'' him for helping her land a state job.
The investigation also found that Gutierrez violated policies that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The report detailed an incident where Gutierrez allegedly was drinking with other employees while driving a state vehicle.
The matter is now under investigation by the State Highway Patrol.
Messages left for Gutierrez's attorney, Sam Amendolara, and Jennings were not immediately returned.
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