4 (Republicans) Plead No Contest in Ohio Ethics Case

[Robbien]

In a scandal that has shaken the state's Republican-dominated government, four Ohio politicians pleaded no contest Wednesday to ethics violations.

Lucas County Commissioner Maggie Thurber, Toledo City Councilwoman Betty Shultz, former Toledo Mayor Donna Owens and former state Rep. Sally Perz were accused of receiving money from prominent GOP donor Tom Noe, then contributing it to President Bush's re-election campaign in their own names in an alleged scheme by Noe to skirt laws limiting individual contributions to $2,000.

The four bring to 14 the number of people charged in the scandal centered on Noe, who was hired by the Ohio Workers' Compensation Bureau to manage a $50 million investment in rare coins.

Noe pleaded guilty last month to giving $45,000 directly or indirectly to two dozen friends and associates who then donated the money in their names to the Bush campaign. He is awaiting trial on state charges of embezzling more than $1 million from the coin fund.

The scandal has been a major embarrassment for Ohio's ruling Republicans and led to ethics charges against Gov. Bob Taft, who pleaded no contest to failing to report gifts.

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060628/APA/606280854

[marmar]

1. No Contest. That's Slavic for "guilty."

The whole Republican Party, on local, state and national levels, is a filthy cesspool, a big organized crime syndicate.

[OzarkDem]

2. Its a slap on the wrist

These folks could have provided testimony about how funds were laundered from Noe and the Ohio BWC into Bush's campaign. But the GOP prosecutor gave them immunity in exchange for their testimony (which he didn't need to make his case).

[Moderator]

3. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2361601