Reply #8: Taft was present when golf was topic,Governor spoke at ethics sessions [View All]

[Algorem]

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050826/NEWS01/508260403/1056

Friday, August 26, 2005

COLUMBUS - Gov. Bob Taft made opening remarks at mandatory ethics seminars for state employees in 2003 and again this spring where a memo on free golf was either discussed or referred to in handouts.

Prosecutors used the May 2001 document by the Ohio Ethics Commission as the linchpin in their case against Taft, saying any golf he was treated to after that ruling should have been reported.

After his Aug. 18 conviction for ethics violations, Taft said he learned this summer of the commission's four-year-old memo, which included golf outings in the ban on accepting gifts worth at least $75.

"Not until too late, and I take responsibility for that," Taft said. "I didn't become aware of that, unfortunately, until earlier this summer."...