Cuyahoga County prosecutor Michael O'Malley has handed an investigation into improper IT contracts to the state attorney general, as the office has found itself in a position to investigate and defend county officials.
Spokesman Ryan Miday said in an e-mail that the transfer became necessary after the county was sued in relation to injuries and deaths at the county jail. Eight inmates died in county custody in 2018.
O'Malley's office says Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost agreed to the request and that eliminates any potential conflict of interest.
In January, a grand jury indicted one current and two former county employees for withholding information or lying and converting moving expenses to a signing bonus without approval.
The prosecutor's office provided this statement to Ideastream:
Pursuant to our statutory duty under Ohio law, the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office has been involved in an investigation of the conduct of certain county employees over the last year and a half. That investigation has resulted in the indictment of three current and former county employees. Over that same time, events have occurred which have resulted in county officials and employees being sued (or threatened with lawsuits) over injuries and deaths occurring in connection with county operations and facilities.
Such lawsuits expose the County to significant liability and financial risk, and require this office to vigorously defend the county officials and employees named as defendants. As the investigation progressed, it became clear that a potential conflict had been created which required this office to ask the Ohio Attorney General’s Office to assume the responsibility of taking over the prosecution of the three pending cases, as well as the ongoing county criminal investigation.
Prosecutor Michael O’Malley asked Attorney General David Yost to do this, and he has agreed to this request. This will eliminate any potential conflict and ensures the uninterrupted continuation of the investigation.
