COLUMBUS – Senator Nina Turner (D-Cleveland), Senator Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) and Senator Joe Schiavoni (D-Canfield) today called on the Senate Judiciary Criminal Justice Committee to comply with a request of the Office of the Inspector General and delay hearing testimony from witnesses. The Inspector General said he needed until April 9th to complete interviews and review records regarding the Highway Patrol.
Unfortunately, the committee’s chairman rejected the request. As a result, the three Democratic members of the committee declined to participate in a hearing that could interfere with the Inspector General’s investigation.
“The Democratic members of the committee feel very strongly that we should respect the office of the Inspector General,” said Senator Turner, the ranking member on the committee. “The committee should have complied with the request to delay taking further testimony.”
“There is precedent in the Senate to delay hearings at the request of the Inspector General,” said Senator Smith, the Assistant Minority Leader. “The committee should have followed the same policy in this case to avoid anything that could hinder the Inspector General’s investigation.”
In September 2009, the Senate Government Oversight Committee scheduled a hearing to collect testimony regarding procedures at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The hearing was postponed at the request of the Inspector General while he conducted a similar investigation.
“We have time to take testimony from witnesses after the Inspector General has completed his work,” said Senator Schiavoni. “What’s the rush?”
During today’s hearing, the committee chairman also violated Senate procedure in refusing to recognize a point of order made by Senator Turner.
