Crites pushes for bill to hurry corruption investigations

COLUMBUS - Former U.S. Attorney and current attorney general candidate Mike Crites (R-Powell) hasn't been elected yet but is already pushing to change the way things work in state government.

Yesterday Crites proposed the creation of the Ohio Public Corruption Commission that he said would allow public corruption cases to be investigated and prosecuted more quickly than they currently are.

County prosecutors investigate corruption charges in their counties, but they may lack the time, money and staff to investigate cases in a timely fashion, or have conflicts of interest that require recusal.

In that case, there are currently two alternatives for prosecutors, which Crites said have unique problems. First, investigations may go to the U.S. attorney's office (which may lack jurisdiction) or second, they may go to a special prosecutor (whose investigation may take years to finish).

Crites wants a third option: handing investigations to the OPCC, which would first vet complaints of public corruption and then determine which cases merit prosecution. The investigations and prosecutions would be overseen by assistant prosecutors, known as public integrity counsels.
Crites stressed the OPCC is an alternative, not a substitute for county prosecutors.

"The county prosecutors under our proposal will retain all current jurisdiction over all crimes committed in their counties. This in no way abrogates any jurisdiction...that a county prosecutor has to prosecute criminal activity in his or her county," Crites said.

The initial complaints that may lead to a corruption investigation can come from a county prosecutor, the attorney general, inspector general, legislative inspector general, the Ohio Ethics Commission, or a sheriff. The complaint would be presented to the OPCC confidentially to prevent the alleged person's reputation from being publically tarnished before an investigation begins, Crites said.

The OPCC requires legislation, which will be carried in the House by state Rep. Ann Schindel (R-Leroy Twp). Crites said will meet next week with Republican General Assembly leaders to discuss the bill. Crites said he's helped draft a bill on open space as the law director for the Village of Granville, but has not otherwise been involved in legislative matters.

The OPCC would be made of eight county prosecutors and two representatives from Ohio's northern and southern U.S. Attorney districts. Four of the county prosecutors would be appointed by the governor, two of whom would be Democrats and two Republicans. Four more would be appointed by the attorney general, two of whom would be Democrats and two Republicans. All would be confirmed by the state Senate, and the chairmanship would annually rotate political parties. The attorney general wouldn't sit on the OPCC.