An indictment in late 2020 brought public corruption charges and abruptly derailed a promising Cincinnati political career. The allegation claimed acceptance of campaign donations from undercover agents posing as investors on a downtown redevelopment project in exchange for favorable official action, with no accusation of personal embezzlement. The accused proclaimed innocence and faced a difficult, disorienting legal period. A positive outcome was increased time with family and a rescue dog, Oakley, a 30-pound white-and-brown mix adopted nine years earlier, believed to be part Australian Shepherd and Brittany Spaniel, shy but affectionate and a calming presence during trial preparation.
After I was indicted in late 2020 and my political career fell apart almost instantly, I spent most of my time at home. I'd been Cincinnati's youngest councilman for nearly a decadea favorite for its next mayorwhen public corruption charges were brought against me, stemming from a movie-like FBI sting. The allegation was that I accepted campaign donations from undercover agents posing as investors on a downtown redevelopment project in exchange for favorable official action. There was zero accusation of personal embezzlement.
While fighting the case against me initiated a difficult, disorienting, and scary stretch of life, there was a silver lining: I got to spend a lot more time with my family and our dog, Oakley. Oakley is a 30-pound rescue with white fur and brown splotches. My wife, Sarah, and I impulsively adopted her nine years ago and named her after the Cincinnati neighborhood where we met on a blind date.
We've always believed that Oakley is part Australian Shepherd, part Brittany Spaniel, though we've never done genetic testing. She's shy, except around our immediate family, and has a tendency to groom herself like a cat. In the years we've had Oakley, she's barked only about ten times total. When she cocks her head and flashes her puppy eyes, it melts my heart.
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