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Republicans And Democrats Debate If DeWine Had Jurisdiction On ECOT
By: Karen Kasler | Statehouse News Bureau
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Democrats have been blasting Republican Attorney General and candidate for governor Mike DeWine for not doing more about the multi-million dollar scandal involving the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, the now-closed online charter school. But Republicans are pushing back.
A finding from Republican Auditor Dave Yost that ECOT submitted fraudulent student data to the state was turned over to federal prosecutors and the Republican Franklin County prosecutor. That’s because prosecutions happen locally, according to Yost, a former prosecutor running for attorney general.
“So when Attorney General DeWine says he has no jurisdiction, he’s just stating what is a well-known legal fact and frankly shame on the people that are on the other side that know better,” he said.
But Democratic Rep. Tavia Galonski, a former Summit County magistrate, disagrees.
“Ohio law gives the Attorney General broad powers for bringing criminal charges against entities that misuse public funds,” she said.
She asked DeWine to appoint a special prosecutor to look into criminal charges regarding ECOT. DeWine has appointed outside counsel to handle the ECOT case.