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Scandal-plagued Ohio AG resigns COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio's attorney general resigned Wednesday under threat of impeachment because of a sexual harassment investigation in his office and his extramarital affair.
Attorney General Marc Dann said at a news conference that he had to resign to preserve the ability of the office to carry out the priorities he established. "It is now clear to me that the only way to protect these priorities for the office of attorney general and for the people of Ohio is to remove myself from the situation," said the 46-year-old Democrat. Dann, elected in 2006, spoke for less than three minutes and left Gov. Ted Strickland's ceremonial Statehouse room without taking questions. He admitted May 2 to an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to sexual harassment claims against a top aide. Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation, which showed managers encouraged a casual work environment with frequent profanity and inappropriate interactions with subordinates. Dann had resisted resigning, despite demands by Strickland and others within his party, a growing number of investigations into conduct at his office and the filing Tuesday of articles of impeachment against him.
Giant beetles seized at Penn. post office PHILADELPHIA -- Customs agents seized more than two dozen giant beetles -- some the size of a child's hand -- from an overseas package after postal workers heard the insects making scratching noises. The large bugs arrived last week from Taiwan at a post office in Mohnton, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, in a box whose contents were labeled as toys, gifts and jellies, officials said Wednesday. But the postmaster suspected the package contained live organisms and notified authorities, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency. The package was sent to Philadelphia, where it was X-rayed and then opened. "The specimens were some of the largest of their kind, and some of the largest I've ever seen, averaging five to six inches in diameter," John Plummer, an agency agriculture specialist, said in a statement Wednesday. "They are highly destructive insect pests that can cause extensive damage to fruit and vegetable crops, trees, shrubs and turf grasses." In all, authorities found 26 Hercules, rhinoceros and Goliath beetles. It is illegal to ship live beetles into the United States without a permit from the Department of Agriculture.
Texas substitute comes to class drunk RICHARDSON, Texas -- A substitute teacher suspected of being drunk in a suburban Dallas middle school class was too intoxicated to complete a sobriety test and was arrested, authorities said. Thomas Brownlee, 56, was in a classroom Tuesday with students and another staff member for about 20 minutes, Richardson school district spokesman Tim Clark said. Another teacher suspected Brownlee was drunk and told a police officer at Parkhill Junior High. A Dallas police report states that Brownlee "had slurred speech, breath smelling of an alcoholic beverage and bloodshot eyes." The officer stopped issuing a sobriety test out of concern for Brownlee's safety, according to the report. Brownlee was charged with public intoxication. A telephone listing for Brownlee was disconnected. Clark said students were never alone with Brownlee, and that the district had used him as a substitute teacher before without problems.
Woman pleads guilty in prostitution probe NEW YORK -- A woman accused of booking clients for a high-priced call-girl ring pleaded guilty Wednesday to money laundering and promoting prostitution in the federal probe that brought down former Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Temeka Rachelle Lewis, who worked as a booking agent for the Emperor's Club VIP, is the first defendant to admit guilt in the case that led to Spitzer's resignation. She made a brief court appearance in a plea bargain that obligates her to turn over records, testify before a grand jury if asked and answer any questions investigators may have about her role in arranging dates between Emperor's Club working girls and the agency's deep-pocketed clients. Her agreement to cooperate was revealed in court papers filed by prosecutors, then reluctantly confirmed by her lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, after a federal magistrate turned down his request to have the records sealed. Members of the news media had objected to a seal. Agnifilo said Lewis, 32, has yet to be asked to appear before the grand jury. He added that prosecutors have not disclosed whether the probe's next target is Spitzer, who has not been charged.
Colombians appear in U.S. courts on drug charges MIAMI -- Fourteen warlords from far-right paramilitary militias suspected in Colombia of thousands of atrocities began court appearances Wednesday around the United States on drug trafficking charges. The 14 were extradited Tuesday and spread out over Miami, Tampa, Washington, Houston and New York for initial federal court appearances. They could face 30-year prison terms after the Bush administration agreed not to seek life sentences in exchange for extradition. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe said he decided to extradite the men because they were still committing crimes from Colombian prisons, not cooperating with authorities and had failed to pay restitution to victims. The 14 include top leaders of the notorious militias blamed for modern Colombia's worst atrocities. |
