Bottom Line: Ted Strickland and his administration think that they are above the law and can avert a drug bust at the Governor's Mansion in order to avoid "political embarrassment."
A Drug Sting at the Governor's Mansion was Called Off Last Minute
Wheeling Intelligencer: "Earlier this year, Patrol officials planned a 'sting' operation involving an inmate who was working at Gov. Ted Strickland's home. It is not uncommon for trusted prison inmates to be used for such work at public facilities. Law enforcement officials became aware of a plan for the inmate's wife to leave a package of contraband for him somewhere on the grounds of the governor's home. He was to pick it up and smuggle it into a state prison. Initially, officials thought the contraband was to consist of tobacco. Later, they learned it was illegal drugs. Days before the sting was to take place, Highway Patrol officials ordered that it be canceled. The decision may have been made from the very top - Public Safety Director Cathy Collins-Taylor. Instead of arresting the inmate's wife, troopers told her they were aware of her plan and warned her she could be arrested if she attempted to go forward with it or any similar project." (Editorial, The Wheeling Intelligencer, 3/29/10)
Senate Hearings and Obtained E-Mails Show that the Sting was Called Off for Politcal Reasons
Public Safety Director, Cathy Collins-Taylor, had concerns about the sting being an “embarrassment” to Strickland.
"[E-mails] show [Public Safety Director Cathy] Collins-Taylor sent an e-mail to [her chief of staff, Michael] McCann expressing concerns about the sting. She wrote that then-state prisons Director Terry Collins 'had concerns about the level it was being ramped up to also and the embarrassment to the boss,' a reference to Strickland." (Cleveland Plain Dealer, 3/24/10)
Highway Patrol testified that calling off the drug sting was “to avoid political embarrassment,” and to “keep things quiet.”
"A former State Highway Patrol officer testified during Ohio Senate hearings on the matter Wednesday that public safety officials called off the Jan. 10 operation to avoid political embarrassment, not for safety reasons that have been cited. Maj. Robert Booker, who was relieved of his duties in late January and has since retired, told a committee that all the proper officials had cleared the operation, but that he was told by [Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. David] Dicken that it was being called off 'to keep things quiet.'" (Associated Press, 3/25/10)
Strickland’s top attorney alerted the Department of Public Safety of his concerns surrounding the drug sting.
"Newly released e-mails show Gov. Ted Strickland's top lawyer [Chief Counsel, Kent Markus] was the first to bring concerns about a drug sting planned for the Ohio governor's mansion to the attention of the officials who eventually called it off." (Associated Press, 3/25/10)
Public Safety Director Collins-Taylor to Strickland’s Chief Counsel, Kent Markus: “Your cause for concern was right on.”
"Amanda Wurst, a spokeswoman for the governor, said Wednesday that Chief Counsel Kent Markus called and e-mailed Public Safety Director Cathy Collins-Taylor two days before the planned January sting to make sure she knew of the operation and the concerns raised by the governor's Executive Protection Unit. She did not. After they talked, Collins-Taylor e-mailed Markus: 'Have had many conversations and are scaling any planned operations back. I'll call you with an update later after (Highway Patrol Superintendent) Col. (David) Dicken has had his face to face with his internal folks. Your cause for concern was right on.'" (Associated Press, 3/25/10)
Strickland Has No Concerns about How the Issue was Handled
Strickland said he was “comfortable” with how the drug sting was handled.
"A call for an investigation came Thursday as Gov. Ted Strickland said he was comfortable with the way the Ohio State Highway Patrol tipped off a drug suspect about a sting that was to take place outside the Governor's Mansion." (10 TV News, Columbus, 1/28/10)
Strickland: No one should face scrutiny, “I don’t know that anybody has done anything wrong or inappropriate.”
"If [Highway Patrol Col. Tom] Rice has his way, he wants Strickland to reinstate Maj. Robert Booker, who was relieved of his duties last week and was placed under an administrative investigation for his handling of the case. Last week, Strickland told [10 investigates’ Paul] Aker that nobody should face scrutiny. 'I don't know why they would be under scrutiny,' Strickland said. 'I don't know that anybody has done anything wrong or inappropriate.'" (10 TV News, Columbus, 2/1/10)
