Saw Brian Hicks today. He has a really cool little brown sports car that he tools around in. Very very nice. So that reminded me, I should check the paper to see if he had been indicted by the Franklin County Prosecutor. No, not yet.
But what struck me was the article on the front page of the Dispatch. . . it was ostensibly about Hicks, but in reality it was about Taft, and if the other shoe were to drop on Taft's fifty golf outings.
While Taft isn't facing capital punishment, if it is found that he knowingly filed false financial-disclosure statements, he faces up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both for each violation. Since each admission could constitute two violations -- one for failure to disclose, the other for filing a false report -- misdemeanors could stack up quickly.
"Knowingly" is the key word. Investigators would have to prove that the governor intentionally failed to disclose events he knew should have been reported, often a tough case to make.
The warning on the back of all ethics statements, including those signed by Taft, is clear:
By signing below, I swear or affirm that this statement and any additional attachments have been prepared or carefully reviewed by me, and constitute my complete, truthful, and correct disclosure of all required information.
By signing below, I also acknowledge and understand that knowingly filing a false statement is a criminal misdemeanor of the first degree, in violation of Sections 102.02(D) and 2921.12(A)(7) of the Revised Code, punishable by a fine of not more than $1,000, imprisonment of not more than six months, or both. I also acknowledge and understand that filing a false statement may be grounds for removal from public office or dismissal from public employment. . . .
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2005/07/28/20050728-A1-00.html&chck=t
So Governor Taft gets prosecuted after the Ethics Commission finds that he has committed a violation. Does he go to jail? No, probably not. Just a fine. But who knows. It would help Republican chances a lot if he did resign. All of a sudden you have Governor "Warmth of the Sun" Bruce Johnson, and a totally different landscape.
But more to the point . . . has anyone bothered to file an ethics charge against Jean Schmidt about her loge date with the lobbyist? What would it look like if the Republican Congressman was sitting in a jail cell when she should be doing this nation;s business.
P.S. Just checked tonight. Brian Hicks was indicted.
Brian K. Hicks, Gov. Bob Taft's former chief of staff, and Hicks' secretary, Cherie N. Carroll, each are expected to enter pleas Friday to a first degree misdemeanor charge relating to gifts they took from Maumee coin-dealer Thomas W. Noe.
http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=124086