Taft aide referred to prosecutors in Noe scandal

2/9/2006

COLUMBUS The Ohio Elections Commission today found that H. Douglas Talbott, a former high-ranking aide to Governors George Voinovich and Bob Taft, violated state campaign finance law by funneling money from Tom Noe to three Republican state Supreme Court candidates.

The commission unanimously referred the matter to the Franklin County prosecutor s office.

According to the complaint filed by investigators on Jan. 27, Mr. Talbott, now a lobbyist, took $1,960 from Mr. Noe and made contributions to Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, Justice Terrence O Donnell, and Judge Judith Lanzinger of Toledo in his own name, rather than in the name of the actual donor, Tom Noe, the complaint stated.

Mr. Talbott, if charged and convicted, could face a fine up to $10,000.

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