Culture of corruption - Ohio style

The culture of corruption continues to unfold. Two more Thuglicans have been caught in Ohio:

COLUMBUS — Franklin County prosecutors today filed misdemeanor charges against two former senior aides to Governors Bob Taft and George Voinovich.

H. Douglas Talbott and Douglas Moormann were charged after becoming embroiled in scandal because of their ties to Tom Noe.

Mr. Talbott was charged with two counts of violating state ethics law for failing to disclose a $39,000 payment he received from Tom Noe in September, 2002, which Mr. Talbott said was a loan to help buy a vacation home in Lakeside, Ohio. He left the governor’s office in May, 2000, to become a lobbyist.

He also was charged with failing to disclose meals and other gratuities he received as a member of the “Noe Supper Club” — a group of Columbus insiders who accepted lavish dinners from the coin dealer at Morton’s steakhouse, a popular, upscale hangout for the politically connected.