Ohio Gov. Taft Reprimanded Over Ethics

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The state Supreme Court voted Wednesday to publicly reprimand Ohio Gov. Bob Taft over his ethics violations, a black mark that will stay on his permanent record as an attorney.

Taft, a Republican about to leave office, pleaded no contest in 2005 to failing to report golf outings and other gifts and was fined $4,000. He was the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime while in office.

The Office of Disciplinary Counsel, an arm of the state Supreme Court, said in April that Taft violated Ohio’s code of professional conduct for lawyers, and Taft later signed an agreement admitting to the violation.