Updated: 12:22 p.m., Tuesday, April 20, 2021
A special panel of three retired judges suspended Cleveland City Councilman Ken Johnson from office Tuesday, following a federal grand jury’s February indictment on corruption charges.
Johnson pleaded not guilty to charges that he stole federal program dollars and falsified expense reports.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost requested the suspension almost two months ago, per a procedure for the removal of local officials laid out in Ohio state law.
“Like oil and water – corruption and public service just don’t mix,” Yost said in a written statement released Tuesday. “A suspension from public office is the proper remedy until the charges of public corruption are resolved, which is what the court affirmed today.”