Columbus Dispatch // Aug. 12, 2014

Attorney General Mike DeWine considered criminal prosecution of his Equal Employment Opportunity investigator who initially resisted divulging to him a confidential source in a sexual-harassment case.

DeWine referred the case against the investigator to Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien, who declined to pursue charges against Kristine A. Cadek for what DeWine’s office said was improperly obtaining photographs used during her probe.

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O’Brien responded in a Feb. 26 email, saying it had not been a proper use of the system by Cadek to obtain the photos. However, O’Brien said that because the access was limited and there was “no actual harm,” Cadek’s action did not warrant a felony charge. He suggested that “internal counseling or administrative action” would be more appropriate. Cadek was not charged or disciplined.

Ohio Democrats see things differently. Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern says that DeWine’s office punished Cadek for her reluctance to divulge the name of a confidential informant in the sexual-harassment probe.

“Instead of defending the victim, Mike DeWine tried to punish the person who was helping the victim,” Redfern said. “He should be ashamed of himself.”

Documents show that Cadek was concerned about giving DeWine the name because the informant had been promised confidentiality, and she feared the possible “retaliation factor.” However, DeWine pressed her for the name, and she eventually complied. DeWine talked to the informant; there is no record of the conversation. The case was closed a few days later.