CLEVELAND — Cleveland City Council President Kevin Kelley said he called his colleague Ken Johnson and asked him to resign after a federal grand jury indicted him Tuesday on 15 charges, including theft in office.
Kelley said he asked Johnson to step down before making public statements to reporters about the matter.
“For the good residents of Ward 4, the citizens of Cleveland, the body and the city of Cleveland, it will be in everybody’s best interest if he would voluntarily resign,” Kelley told 3News.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asked the Ohio Supreme Court Friday to begin suspension proceedings against Johnson.
Kelley said he supports Yost's action, saying it would preserve Johnson’s due process rights while protecting the public because Johnson would not be voting on or have any control over tax money. Under the Ohio Revised Code provisions that could trigger the temporary removal of public officials facing criminal charges, Johnson would still get paid, Kelley said.
More coverage:
- Ohio Attorney General calls for suspension of Cleveland councilman Ken Johnson following indictment on corruption charges
- Cleveland Councilman Ken Johnson requested re-election paperwork weeks before FBI arrested him
- Cleveland City Councilman Ken Johnson arrested after indicted by federal grand jury on corruption charges: Read the indictment
- Mark Naymik Reports: Cleveland city employee tied to FBI investigation of Councilman Ken Johnson pleads guilty
- Mark Naymik reports: Feds file charges against Cleveland city employee linked to FBI investigation of Councilman Ken Johnson
- Mark Naymik Reports: Cleveland City Council member, two others under FBI investigation
Editor's Note: The below story aired on February 23, 2021