Why was Jessica Utovich wearing p.j.’s in the condo in the first place?
Today’s Columbus Dispatch follows up on a story that was written on Sunday in the Columbus Dispatch that’s gotten quite a bit of discussion on the blogosphere, mainly from the conservative bloggers. Curtsy goes to Ben Keeler of the Keeler Political Report for where I first read about it. Then when I went searching for more discovered the update:
Attorney General Marc Dann today suspended a middle manager accused of sexual harassment and a spokesman denied that his office tried to short-circuit an investigation into the allegations.
Dann placed Anthony Gutierrez, his director of general services, on paid administrative leave while an investigation is conducted into complaints that he sexually harassed two female staff members.
“We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously,” Dann said in a statement.
We all know I’m a Democrat but I do subscribe to the “if it’s wrong, it’s wrong” theory. So in addition to the sexual harassment claims, since it does not appear that’s where Utovich lived, it was the condo of Dann, Gutierrez and Jennings why was she there, wearing p.j.’s lying on the floor working on her laptop? The warning bells went off when I read that part. That’s not normal work attire, nor is it normal for people to be carrying around their p.j.’s with them.
What’s even more troubling is the attitude that if proven to be true this was stated:
Both women said in their complaints that Gutierrez pressured them frequently to have sex, often saying “you owe me” in reference to getting them state jobs.
It seems as if this was more than just one isolated incident when you read the coverage, and then there are the other issues that are out there related to Jessica Utovich. The first Dispatch story provides conflicting information:
Jennings said that staffers, including Utovich, occasionally visited the condo, but only for work-related purposes: “She was there to deliver schedules.”
In her pajamas?
None of the print media stories had a picture of Mr. Gutierrez, but WBNS 10TV did.
In doing some further checking this post at Plunderbund while focusing on the aspect that there should be some “house cleaning” done also states in the comments that Jessica is no longer the scheduler. Then, I discovered I’m not alone in the concern about the p.j.’s question…Jerid on Buckeye State Blog hones in on that part of the story too. He also states rumors have been circulating for a while and he takes issue with the Dispatch for the p.j. line. Given the rumors, I’d tend to agree that it’s pretty clear putting the line about her being in her p.j.’s created questions, like this post. People focus on small parts of the story that don’t make sense…We wonder, “why” and “is there more.”
It’s all about efficiency. If one doesn’t bother getting dressed each day, just think how much time is saved throughout the year. This could be the start of a whole new state productivity program.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:37 amWow…I had no idea our Ohio Government was so cutting edge.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:45 amWell Lily, as a Republican I will admit Bob Taft did not leave the state in the best of shape. But if this is what it takes to get things back on track here, then I would be for it.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:35 amWhy even bother with the PJs?
April 8th, 2008 at 7:28 amFrom the Dispatch story: “Among the allegations, Stankowski said that Gutierrez invited her to the condo after both were drinking one night after work in September. She said that after drinking heavily, she went to bed, and that Gutierrez wound up next to her in only his underwear.”
Well, they apparently had more than a professional relationship.
So Dann, Jennings & Guitterrez live together; Jennings and Guitterrez work for Dann, and Dann puts Guitterrez on paid leave after he “allegedly” sexually harrasses women in the very residence where Dann lives?
Shouldn’t Dann have been concerned when his female employees were going out drinking and staying the night with Guitterrez?
April 8th, 2008 at 8:44 amFor months folks have been whispering about romantic issues stemming out of the AG’s office that may be improper. I know many, many folks that have been on the receiving end of phone calls from the traditional media about these whispers, although nothing has been printed. The line about Utovich in her PJ’s taps into those rumors, and that was the Dispatch’s intention.
My issue is either print a substantive article about it or don’t.Don’t leak out little tidbits when you don’t have anything to say either way.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:06 amI can’t wait for the word “misspoke” to be the excuse on this one.
April 8th, 2008 at 10:08 amJerid, I don’t disagree with you, if they have more than just the statement about the p.j.’s they should have included it, because it did as we’ve seen, create quite a bit of speculation.
Emily, that’s another issue that is a valid one, especially since I think at least two if not three of the men are married, including Guitterrez.
Ron, when I read the Plain Dealer the response to the question about the p.j.’s was:
April 8th, 2008 at 10:29 amHow about the Dann campaign paying for the personal residence of 3 state employees! I gave money to Marc Dann’s campaign to get elected not provide housing to the A(lpha)G(amma) frat house. How is that an appropriate use of campaign funds? I am wearing my pajamas at work today in order to get a 28% percent raise like Jess
April 8th, 2008 at 11:08 amIsn’t the salient question something like this: WHAT WAS OHIO’S ATTORNEY GENERAL DOING ENCOURAGING YOUNG FEMALE STAFFERS TO VISIT HIS PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN THE FIRST PLACE??????? (for crying out loud).
In my opinion, his behavior was unprofessional, juvenile, disgusting, and begs questions about personal moral undnerpinnings. He moved out of the condo shortly thereafter – yeah, I’ll bet he did post haste. Possibly – one might speculate – after some really loud conversations with his investigative journalist wife about young girls sleeping over in his condo. Even given all the incredibly wrong, bad behavior on the part of all 3 men involved, common sense would tell anybody – particularly an individual holding high state office – that one of the men should have driven the drunk girl home.
PJ’s – yeah, a bad sign, although the younger crowd wears PJ bottoms to Walmarts these days. But Dann’s the one we should be scrutinizing here – why was this young staffer there after working hours at all?
Yeah, we’ve come a long way since Betty Montgomery.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:13 amDoesn’t anyone have a problem with the fact that the investigation of such allegations within the AG’s office is being led by the AG’s office itself? Seriously? Are we to actually believe that such an investigation can be credible? No matter what your politics are, when it comes to allegations like this, the process (investigation) itself should be unquestionably credible.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:08 pm# 11 MM Says: “Doesn’t anyone have a problem with the fact that the investigation of such allegations within the AG’s office is being led by the AG’s office itself?”
No, Dan will get a hall pass from these liberals. It doesn’t matter if any wrongs were committed. He is innocent by association with the Democratic party. Just as rev wright said nothing wrong.
April 8th, 2008 at 12:18 pmMM is spot-on. They can’t investigate themselves in this (or any other serious) matter. And they are all smart enough to know that so what does that tell us ?
Where there is smoke there’s fire. Shouldn’t someone in Dann’s position be practicing that old principle of avoiding even the appearance of impropriety ? His inability to understand that not only brands him as an amateur but taints and ultimately overshadows anything good he has done. Take your ball and go home, Mr. Dann. Ohio deserves better.
April 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm[...] going on? You can catch up here, here, here or here, for [...]
April 8th, 2008 at 10:22 pmThis is insane. Has anyone bothered to get the side of Utovich?? Seems to me that the word of one man is being used to trash a young woman who doesn’t deserve such treatment. The fact that one man says he saw this doesn’t prove anything. I have known Ms. Utovich for over 15 years and I am appalled by the fact that her good name is being dragged through the mud without any proof.
April 30th, 2008 at 12:18 ami was offered the scheduler job back when dann announced he was running for AG.. i can’t help but think how different this would have turned out had i accepted. i do find it all pretty amusing though.
also – i don’t see strickland letting dann stick around, he’s a goner – expect an announcement early next week.
keep in mind teddy boy still has national aspirations and something like this, if not immediately dealt with and cleaned up would be a huge liability and pretty much ruin his chances of a VP slot if hilary gets the dem nomination.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 amJessica,
Get an agent, get myspace page, and get into Playboy. This could be a financial WINDFALL! Good luck.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:56 pm