CLEVELAND, Ohio — Councilman Joe Jones and his attorney are going on the offensive, challenging what they say is a flawed investigation that led to his censure and demanding access to the full report created by an outside law firm — which determined that Jones threatened to kill a staffer.
In a letter to council leadership Friday, attorney Sam O’Leary said the probe into Jones had “serious factual, procedural, and legal failings” and said that Jones was penalized without due process.
Through his attorney, Jones has put in a records request for McDonald Hopkins’ investigation, which so far has been shielded from the public under attorney-client privilege. Only Council President Blaine Griffin and Clerk Patricia Britt are considered the clients, and no other member of Cleveland City Council has been given the investigation, including Jones…