COLUMBUS — Ohio House Democrats filed articles of impeachment Tuesday against scandal-scarred Attorney General Marc Dann, seeking the fellow Democrat’s removal for allegations including gross neglect of his duties.

The Democrats’ resolution, which needs Republican support, outlines nine counts of why Dann should be impeached, including allegations of gross immorality and obstruction of his office’s investigation that found an employee was sexually harassed by a top aide.

Dann admitted May 2 an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to the sexual harassment claims. Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation that showed management encouraged a casual work environment with frequent profanity and inappropriate interactions with subordinates.

Dann, who has refused requests from both parties to resign, was working on a response to the Democrats’ action, his spokesman Jason Stanford said.

The impeachment articles must get backing from Republicans who control the Legislature in order to send the charges to the Senate for a trial.

The Democrats’ resolution, researched by three lawmakers, also accused Dann of making misleading statements under oath and said he should have known his actions created a hostile work environment.

Dann neglected his duty by “…undermining the integrity of his office; bringing disrepute upon the office; betraying the public trust as Ohio’s chief law enforcement officer…,” a statement from the Democrats said.

“We promised the people of Ohio to end a culture of corruption that existed in the past, and we are fulfilling that promise by cleaning our own house when events and circumstances warrant,” the three lawmakers who researched the articles said in the statement.

Democrats say they drafted the articles based on sworn testimony from sexual harassment investigation, as well as other statements.

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