Government and Politics
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Cuyahoga auditor charged, quits, apologizes
Frank Russo facing 21 criminal charges; apology does little to sooth anger
by WKSU's KEVIN NIEDERMIER |
Reporter
Kevin Niedermier | | |
 | | Cuyahoga Auditor Frank Russo served three elected terms and the feds say he taking kickbacks during virtually all of them. |
Cuyahoga County Auditor Frank Russo resigned this morning, has been charged with 21 counts of bribery and corruption, is apologizing and apparently is cooperating with prosecutors.
Russo and Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora have been the focus of a federal corruption investigation for more than two years. Russo is accused of accepting bribes in exchange for jobs, contracts, lower tax values on homes and other favors beginning within a year of taking office in 1997. The charges say the corruption continued until March 2009, eight months after FBI agents raided Russo's home and offices.
In a letter of resignation this morning, Russo apologized for any harm he had done. But that did little to soothe an angry Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones.
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(Click image for larger view.)
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Jones says Russo's actions have cost the county nearly 5 million dollars in special audits and reviews of his office plus nearly 5 million dollars to conduct a primary election that is part of a government reform effort.
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