Within hours of gaining control of $25 million from the state of Ohio in 1998, Tom Noe began stealing it, according to a 53-count indictment unsealed yesterday.
He did not stop, the indictment states, until state officials shut down his coin funds last spring.
The indictment by a Lucas County grand jury alleges that Mr. Noe laundered and stole more than $3 million from the rare-coin investment funds he managed for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.....
>>The Columbus Dispatch is a very conservative newspaper. However, this morning's front page might suggest that the editors don't like Tom Noe or that they just couldn't bury the entire story. Since his trials could be scheduled before the November election, the story will not go away from the public's eye. Here are some highlights from the article about November:
...Two Noe-related trials are possible before the Nov. 7 election, a nightmarish prospect for Republicans, who have controlled every branch of state government since 1995. In addition to the state charges unsealed yesterday, Noe also faces federal charges of illegally funneling campaign contributions to the Bush-Cheney campaign during the 2004 election cycle....
...Republicans yesterday were in mitigating mode. They characterized Noe as a renegade who does not represent the party’s ethics or values, "a disgrace to himself and to his party . . . who should face the strongest possible punishment," said Ohio GOP Chairman Robert T. Bennett.
"Frankly, Tom Noe is irrelevant to us. He’ll have a long time in prison to think about his mistakes."
Democrats won’t let the GOP discard Noe so cavalierly. "It’s not just about Tom Noe, it’s about dozens of elected Republican officials and operatives across the entire state who participated in this culture of corruption, this pattern of behavior," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern...
Why are these Republicans dismissing Noe? They were very willing to invite him to fundraisers, drink with him, go to his picnics, and take his money. Now, they decide he is not important. Wrong! Tom Noe's access to big time Ohio Republicans shows how corrupt the whole Republican Party is because they'll do anything for the money.
According to Roll Call, Republican Rep. Deborah Pryce is taking responsibility for forgetting about Republican Delegate from Puerto Rico, Rep. Luis Fortuno, in the recent vote for Majority Leader.
Paul Hackett has withdrawn from the campaign for the U.S. Senate.
Missed this earlier, but it is still interesting: Did a well-known, and highly respected attorney lose work because this attorney supported an opponent of Jim Petro's? The Plain Dealer had the story here.
Eric Fingerhut, a Democratic State Senator, has withdrawn from the governor's race. This clears the way for Strickland as the Democratic nominee for the race for Ohio governor.