States Archives - Checks and Balances Project

While Leading Flawed Inquiry into Seitz, Taft Attorney Represented Former Sen. Hite’s Victim

2018-07-27

Janica Pierce Tucker of Taft Law was selected to lead the investigation into a sexual harassment complaint against powerful House Majority Leader Bill Seitz. The inquiry was driven in part by Seitz’s inappropriate joke about Hite’s conduct that referenced the Marvin Gaye song, “Let’s Get It On.”

Was Policy Followed When North Carolina Speaker Moore’s Fiancée Was Hired?

2018-07-23

Given the power of the Speaker Tim Moore and his ability to influence state government, there are important questions to raise on behalf of taxpayers who pay the salaries of both Moore and Ms. Gray.

Seitz Sexual Harassment Investigators Billed Only $7,962 of $12,000 Budget

2018-07-20

Two ethics complaints have been filed with the Ohio Supreme Court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel about the conflicts in the Taft Law investigation. The first was by C&BP on June 21, 2018; the second was filed by a southwest Ohio woman one week later.

Second Ethics Complaint Filed Against Taft Law — Seitz’s Former Firm

2018-07-9

A new ethics complaint has been filed against Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, and editorials by the Columbus Dispatch and Toledo Blade call for a re-do of the sexual harassment investigation of Ohio House Majority Leader Bill Seitz. The investigation was first reported by Checks and Balances Project.

New Statewide Poll: Just 16% of Ohio Voters Believe Seitz’s Claim Sexual Harassment Complaint is “Meritless”

2018-06-28

We’ve been asking the leadership of the Ohio House for months to tell the public what steps they taking to ensure that they don’t have a culture of sexual harassment, and that Seitz’s inappropriate behavior was an isolated incident – and not a pattern. They have evaded the questions, which are beginning to take a toll in terms of credibility and public trust.

C&BP Files Ethics Complaint Against Seitz’s Former Law Firm that Cleared Him in Sexual Harassment Investigation

2018-06-22

Attorney General DeWine’s spokesman: Taft Stettinus & Hollister LLP, where Bill Seitz worked for 36 years, conducted the conflicts review internally “and tell us if they’re clean or not…. It’s their professional licensure at risk.”

Toledo Blade Is First Major Paper to Call for “Re-do” of Seitz Investigation

2018-06-21

Attorney General Mike DeWine hired the law firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister to conduct the Seitz Investigation as Special Counsel for the Ohio House of Representatives. The problem is that the outside firm is a former long-time employer of Rep. Seitz.

Ohio House of Representatives’ “Seitz Investigation” into Sexual Harassment Cost Taxpayers $12,000 to Interview Just Two People

2018-06-15

Records now obtained by C&BP from the Ohio legislature reveal that the law firm hired to conduct what it called the “Seitz Investigation” was Taft Stettinus & Hollister LLP —the firm where Bill Seitz worked for 36 years.

Checks and Balances Project Sends Final Demand Letter to Ohio House for Release of Special Counsel’s Report on Sexual Harassment

2018-06-5

Watchdog Also Seeks Details of Ohio House Sexual Harassment Investigation: Scope, Targets, Costs, Who Was Hired and How They Were Hired.

Checks and Balances Project Hires Ohio First Amendment Attorney Jack Greiner to Enforce Citizen Access to Public Records

2018-05-23

Jack Greiner will explore a lawsuit enforcing public access to a Special Counsel Report on Sexual Harassment in the Ohio House of Representatives. The watchdog group is also seeking documents revealing the scope of the investigation, as well as who served in the role of Special Counsel, how they were hired, who decided to hire them and how much the work cost taxpayers.