Ad Text:

The Facts:

"Mike DeWine has reached a new low – attacking Sherrod Brown about an employee in the Secretary of State's office 20 years ago. 

But DeWine's charges are lies."

FACT: Sherrod Brown Took "Decisive Action" to Investigate.

Republican Prosecutor: No Cover-Up.  "There is no evidence of a cover-up of an investigation into possible drug-dealing from the office of Secretary of State Sherrod Brown five years ago, Franklin County Prosecutor Michael Miller said… Miller, a Republican, said that investigators simply  failed to complete their work-- `an honest mistake' -- and waited too long, making prosecution of the felony drug sales now very difficult."  [Akron Beacon-Journal 9/1/90]

Brown Initiated Investigation.  "Patrol records do indicate that Brown was the first to notify law-enforcement officials of possible drug use in his office."  [Dayton Daily News 8/21/90]

Brown's Account Confirmed.  "Secretary of State Sherrod Brown said Friday that he initiated and cooperated in a 1985 drug investigation among his employees and that the case was closed without arrests by law enforcement officials….The decision to close the case was made exclusively by the Ohio Highway Patrol, the Franklin County prosecutor's office and  the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, Brown said.  Highway Safety Director William Denihan, whose department includes the patrol, confirmed Brown's account of investigation."  [Dayton Daily News 6/23/90]

No Charges Were Filed.  "No charges were filed in either case, and news of the undercover drug buy never made it to the prosecutor, Hopkins and Franklin County Prosecutor Michael Miller said."  [Dayton Daily News 7/4/90]

Highway Patrol Failed to Inform Prosecutor.  "The patrol has accepted fault for not telling prosecutors about a mid-August 1985 drug buy"  [Akron Beacon Journal 9/2/90]

Investigators Told Brown Not to Reveal Names.  "Miller said his office was never told that an employee of Brown's office sold drugs to an agent.  Brown said he did not tell anyone because investigators told him they did not want the agent's identity revealed."  [The Cincinnati Post 9/11/90]

"The Dayton Daily News said these allegations have been 'investigated and rejected.'  They called the attack 'junk.'  The Plain Dealer called it "pathetic" and said DeWine's attacks 'smacked of desperation.'"

FACT: Attacks Denounced, Allegations Rejected

Dayton Daily News: Allegations "Junk," "Trumped-Up," "Officially Discredited," and "Full of Baloney." The Dayton Daily News called the allegations against Sherrod Brown "junk," "smut," "sleazy," "trumped-up charges," and "officially discredited." The Dayton Daily News rebuked the Columbus Dispatch's original allegations. "The Columbus Dispatch happens to have been full of baloney."  [Dayton Daily News, 10/18/90; 11/4/90;11/9/90]

Akron Beacon Journal: "No Proof of Impropriety Found in Drug Inquiry in Brown's Office." The Akron Beacon Journal said that there was "no evidence of impropriety" for the charges against Brown. [Akron Beacon Journal, 9/2/90]

Plain Dealer: DeWine's Attacks "Pathetic" and "Smack of Desperation."  "DeWine clearly knows he's about cooked. Some of his comments at Friday's City Club debate smacked of desperation….Plus, it's pathetic for a sitting U.S. senator to allege that in the 1980s, an employee of Sherrod Brown may have eaten a banana laced with marijuana. If you're going down, go down with some class. Don't go down the Ken Blackwell way."  [Plain Dealer 10/29/06]

Columbus Dispatch: Allegations Represent a "Ratcheted-up Personal Attack."  The Columbus Dispatch recently said about DeWine's allegations: "It would seem to indicate that the DeWine campaign believes their candidate is behind, as public polls have shown, heading into the final days of the election and that a ratcheted-up personal attack on Brown is required to win. […] At best, the ad overstates the level of scandal and at worst is misleading about Brown's culpability." [Columbus Dispatch 10/28/06]

After 12 years in the senate, doesn't DeWine owe Ohio more than this? 

Isn't it time for a change? 

(Sherrod)

I'm Sherrod Brown – I approve this message.