>> MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT LES WEXNER AND JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

> >> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

THE TIES BETWEEN OHIO BILLIONAIRE LES WEXNER AND SEX TRAFFICKER JEFFREY EPSTEIN ARE WELL KNOWN.

THEY WERE FRIENDS, EPSTEIN CONTROLLED WEXNER'S MONEY.

EPSTEIN LIVED, FOR A TIME, NEAR WEXNER IN NEW ALBANY.

WEXNER HAS MAINTAINED HE DID NOT KNOW OF EPSTEIN'S SEX TRAFFICKING, AND ACCUSED EPSTEIN OF STEALING FROM HIM.

BUT, WITH EACH NEW RELEASE OF EPSTEIN FILES, QUESTIONS GROW ABOUT WEXNER'S ROLE IN EPSTEIN'S ACTIVITIES.

THIS WEEK, UNREDACTED, INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTS LABEL WEXNER AS A CO-CONSPIRATOR.

THIS HAS ONLY INCREASED CALLS FOR CENTRAL OHIO INSTITUTIONS TO CUT TIES WITH PERHAPS THEIR LARGEST BENEFACTOR.

FIRST ON THE LIST, IS OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY --HOME OF THE WEXNER ARTS CENTER, THE WEXNER FOOTBALL COMPLEX, AND THE WEXNER MEDICAL CENTER.

OSU PRESIDENT TED CARTER TOLD WOSU'S "ALL SIDES WITH AMY JURVAICH" THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY HAS RECEIVED MORE THAN TWO DOZEN REQUESTS TO REMOVE WEXNER'S NAME FROM UNIVERSITY ASSETS.

>> THE "CO-CONSPIRATOR" WORD IS "ALLEGED CO-CONSPIRATOR. "

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT.

HE'S NEVER BEEN INDICTED.

HE HASN'T BEEN ARRESTED.

SO, WE TAKE ALL THIS VERY SERIOUSLY, AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE NAMING, WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS WITH THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE BUILT.

THERE IS A PROCESS, AND WE'LL FOLLOW THAT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPECULATE ON WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT HAPPEN WITH THAT.

>> SO, IF IT GOES FROM "ALLEGED," TO BEING TRULY CONSIDERED A CO-CONSPIRATOR WITH EPSTEIN, WOULD YOU CONSIDER REMOVING HIS NAME FROM BUILDINGS?

>> AGAIN, WE'LL GO THROUGH THE PROCESS.

IT'S VERY DEFINED.

IT INVOLVES THE BOARD, AND WE JUST FOLLOW THAT PROCESS.

SO, WE'LL FOLLOW THAT.

WE'VE GOT TO LET THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE HOUSE DO THEIR WORK, AND WE'LL BE PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION.

TED CARTER VERY CAUTIOUS IN HIS RESPONSE, THERE.

BUT, THE FACT THAT THIS IS EVEN A POSSIBILITY, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY REMOVING LES WEXNER'S NAME FROM ITS BUILDINGS IS EXTRAORDINARY.

>> IT IS, ALTHOUGH I REALLY RESPECT WHAT PRESIDENT CARTER SAID BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS.

IT CAN'T BE, HOW MANY TWEETS AND EMAILS HAVE WE GOTTEN ABOUT THIS?

THERE NEEDS TO BE A PROCESS, BECAUSE IT'S EASY TO MAKE AN ALLEGATION.

I'M A PART-TIME PROSECUTOR, I WORK IN THE WORLD APPROVE, YOU HAVE TO PROVE THINGS.

IF SOMEBODY SENDS AN EMAIL SAYING, "I DON'T LIKE THIS, YOU SHOULD TAKE HIS NAME DOWN," SO LET'S REMAIN CALM, GO THROUGH THE PROCESS AND I AM FRANKLY IMPRESSED WITH HOW CALM AND THOUGHTFUL PRESIDENT CARTER WAS IN THAT CLIP, THERE.

>> WELL, OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE BEEN MORE QUICK TO DISASSOCIATE EMPLOYEES WHO ARE TIED TO EPSTEIN.

>> WELL, I THINK, FIRST OF ALL, GIVEN WHAT IS GOING ON NATIONALLY, IT HAS BECOME A BIG ISSUE TO DO THAT, BUT OHIO STATE ALSO HAS KIND OF A TRAGIC HISTORY, WHEN IT COMES TO THIS.

THE BLACKWELL BUSINESS SCHOOL IS NAMED AFTER SOMEONE THAT WENT TO PRISON AND THEY NEVER REMOVED THE NAME, THERE.

THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE THAT DONATED THINGS WHO HAVE HAD MAJOR LAWSUITS AGAINST THEM, SO IT'S INTERESTING THAT HE DID SAY THAT, THERE WILL BE A PROCESS, BECAUSE THERE HASN'T BEEN A FAIR PROCESS AND AN EVEN PROCESS.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT HE IS ALLEGED UNTIL WE KNOW FOR SURE THERE COULD BE SOME LEGAL ISSUES THAT THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AS WELL, AS YOU KNOW.

>> IT IS NOT LEGAL ALLEGATIONS, RIGHT NOW, IT'S SOCIAL MEDIA VIBES.

>> RIGHT, SO I THINK THERE HAS TO BE A PROCESS WITH PRESIDENT CARTER.

WHAT I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ABOUT HIS COMMENTS --WHICH WE MIGHT GET INTO A LITTLE BIT -- HE THREW GORGON GEE UNDER THE BUS.

>> YEAH, WE HAD GORDON GEE, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO SAYING THAT LES WEXNER WAS A VICTIM OF CANCER WILL CULTURE, HE HAD ACTUALLY TALKED TO HIM THAT MORNING FROM FLORIDA AND HE THINKS THIS IS REALLY NOTHING TO DO ABOUT NOTHING AND THEY SHOULD MOVE ON.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, HE SAID, "A PROCESS," BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT PROCESS HE IS REFERRING TO.

SO MUCH ABOUT THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN CASE IS ABOUT THAT PROCESS FAILING, THERE IS EVIDENCE JEFFREY EPSTEIN COMMITTED MORE CRIMES THAN HE WAS CHARGED WITH, AND THE PROSECUTOR DID NOT PURSUE THAT LINE OF EVIDENCE.

THE GOVERNMENT DID NOT AT SOME POINT SEEM TO CONSIDER LES WEXNER A CO-CONSPIRATOR, DID THEY RULE THAT OUT?

AND HE WASN'T CHARGED?

OR, DID THE CASE JUST NOT ADVANCE?

SO, IT'S TRUE, HE IS INNOCENT UNTIL HE IS PROVEN GUILTY, BUT DOES OSU PLAN TO HIRE A LAW FIRM, PERHAPS, TO INVESTIGATE AND GET TO THE BOTTOM FOR THEMSELVES, IS THIS PERSON A GUILTY PERSON?

OR, IS IT JUST, IF HE GETS INDICTED, THEN WE WILL REMOVE THESE BUILDINGS, OR, SAY, IF A STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS PASSED, THEN WE KEEP IT UP?

>> I THINK THIS PROCESS HE TALKED ABOUT WAS LAUNCHED IN 2021-22 WHEN AFTER THE GEORGE FLOYD MORTAR, A LOT OF NAMES WERE ASSOCIATED WITH RACIST PASTS, CONSIDERED TO BE REMOVED FROM BUILDINGS, THE THOMPSON LIBRARY IS THE FIRST THING THEY LOOKED AT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT IS INTERESTING ABOUT THE "CO- CONSPIRATOR" TERM WHEN THEY THROW THAT OUT EVEN IN AN ALLEGED FASHION, MOST OFTEN, IT IS IN THE CASE OF A RICO CASE.

>> WHEN YOU BRING AN INDICTMENT FOR SOMEBODY WHO HAS COMMITTED A CRIME, YOU CAN SAY THAT SOMEBODY CONSPIRED WITH THEM TO COMMIT A CRIME.

IT'S A PRETTY LOW BAR, TO BRING AN INDICTMENT WITH PROBABLE CAUSE, EVEN HARDER TO CONVICT THEM.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

HERE IS THE NEW RULE, THIS IS MARK'S NEW ROLE.

LET'S NOT NAME THINGS AFTER PEOPLE UNTIL THEY ARE DEAD.

HALF THE TEMPLE WAS NAMED AFTER BILL COSBY AND THAT HAD TO BE TAKEN DOWN, SO I'M NOT SAYING LES WEXNER AND BILL COSBY HAVE ANYTHING IN COMMON OTHER THAN THEY ARE BOTH ALIVE, SO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE YOU PUT THEIR NAME ON THINGS AND GIVE THEM A LITTLE REFLECTION.

>> I LIKE THAT.

WE CAN TAKE THE PRESIDENT'S NAME OFF OF BUILDINGS, THE PRESIDENT'S NAME CAN COME OFF OF THE KENNEDY CENTER, NOW.

>> IT MAKES SENSE, HE GAVE THEM A LOT OF MONEY, THIS IS WHY THIS HAPPENED, I GET IT.

>> YOU KNOW, HIS BUSINESS CAREER, HE WENT FROM A SMALL SHOP IN UPPER ARLINGTON TO THIS RETAIL EMPIRE, HIS BUSINESS STORY IS INCREDIBLE, HE HAS BEEN GENEROUS -- >> I WOULDN'T, EITHER.

>> HIS NAME IS ON THE BUILDING.

>> I ACTUALLY THINK HE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST --AND MANY FACTORS OF MANY WEALTHY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HIM, THIS IS A HUGE STAIN ON EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE.

>> WHAT DO POLITICIANS DO?

POLITICIANS HAVE ACCEPTED CAMPAIGN DONATIONS FROM LES WEXNER, JON HUSTED HAS, JOYCE BEATTY, THIS COULD BECOME AN ISSUE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> YOU CAN'T GIVE IT BACK, YOU HAVE TO DONATE IT.

>> WELL, I KNOW A LOT OF POLITICIANS IN THAT EXACT SITUATION, MY VIEW IS, DID THE MONEY COME BECAUSE THAT PERSON BELIEVES IN WHAT THE POLITICIAN DID, OR IS THE POLITICIAN DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THE MONEY?

THE LATTER ISN'T PROPER AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT.

THE FORMER IS TYPICAL.

ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO DONATE TO A MEMBER OF CONGRESS BECAUSE THAT PERSON BELIEVES IN A STRONGER MILITARY, THOSE DONATIONS ARE FINE, NO MATTER WHO THEY COME FROM.

>> WEXNER HAS GIVEN MONEY TO MAINLY MORE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS, BUT HE HAS GIVEN MONEY TO DEMOCRATS.

>> AND HIS WIFE ALSO GAVE MORE MONEY TO DEMOCRATS.

BUT, LOOK, HERE --AS THIS GOES THROUGH, THIS IS TAKING DOWN LOYAL FAMILIES, IT'S AFFECTING THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN.

THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY IF YOU ARE A POLITICIAN, YOU ARE GOING TO GET THIS MONEY AWAY.

IT'S JUST NOT WORTH GOING THROUGH THE HEARTACHE OF THIS.

>> SOME POLITICIANS VIEW IT AS A DISTRACTION OR A PROBLEM, AND THEY SAY YOU SHOULD DONATE IT, BUT -- >> YOU THINK ABOUT, THE PRIME MINISTER OF GREAT BRITAIN COULD BE OUSTED BECAUSE OF A THIRD DEGREE OF SEPARATION.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

>> AND YOU KNOW -- >> AND HIS STAFF WAS SOMEHOW CONNECTED, AND THE FORMER PRINCE ANDREW WAS SOMEHOW CONNECTED TO JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

>> BUT, WE KNOW LES WEXNER AND JEFFREY EPSTEIN WERE FRIENDS FOR DECADES, BUT WE ARE STILL BEING VERY CAUTIOUS WITH THIS.

>> THERE IS NO DENYING THAT IT WAS VERY DUMB TO HANG OUT WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

THERE IS JUST NO GOOD COMMON SENSE REASON TO DO IT.

THE QUESTION IS, WAS A LAW BROKEN?

AND WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE THAT THE LAW WAS BROKEN?

TO DATE, I HAVE SEEN NOTHING.

>> WE SAW A CONFRONTATION BETWEEN A CAMERA PERSON AND AN ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, BASICALLY ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

DO YOU THINK THE UNIVERSITY WOULD WANT TO MOVE ON FROM THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WANTS TO BE UNDER THE CLOUD OF LES WEXNER AND I WOULD SLIGHTLY DISAGREE WITH MARK, THERE IS A QUESTION OF, HAS A LOT BEEN BROKEN?

BUT THERE IS ALSO A QUESTION OF, WHETHER OR NOT A LAW HAS BEEN BROKEN, WHAT IS A PERSON WITH GOOD JUDGMENT AND GOOD MORALS AROUND LES WEXNER -- >> AROUND JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

>> YES, SORRY, AROUND JEFFREY EPSTEIN OR AROUND LES WEXNER, ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS PERSON'S ORBIT, WHO HAS BEEN REPEATEDLY ACCUSED OF ENABLING HIS BEHAVIOR, WHO MANAGED HIS MONEY, PEOPLE AT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" PUT OUT A VERY COMPREHENSIVE REPORT SIX WEEKS AGO THAT TRACED A LOT OF HOW JEFFREY EPSTEIN CLIMBED THROUGH THE RANKS BACK TO LES WEXNER.

I THINK A REASONABLE PERSON COULD LOOK AT THE FACTS AND SAY WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE HIGH STANDARDS OF EVIDENCE IN THIS COUNTRY TO PUT PEOPLE AWAY AND LOCK THEM UP FOR LIFE, THAT'S A GOOD THING, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO FOLLOW THE LAWS OF EVIDENCE TO MAKE A GOOD MORAL JUDGMENT.

>> AND TAGGING ONTO THAT, WE HAVE A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHO IS VERY CLOSE TO THE SAME.

>> YEAH, BUT ENOUGH TALK.

THE REASON THE EPSTEIN FILES SHOWED THAT TRUMP TALK TO THE FBI 20 YEARS AGO, "THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS GUY, YOU SHOULD LOOK AT HIM. "

WE GOT NO SUCH REPORTS FROM BILL CLINTON, HAVING SAID THAT, HIS ORBIT IS BIG AND INCLUDES DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> WE SHALL SEE HOW THIS ALL WILL END.

> >> HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS IN OHIO REMAIN IN A STATE OF LIMBO.

A JUDGE HAS EXTENDED THEIR LEGAL STATUS WHILE A COURT CASE CONTINUES.

IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS TOLD A COURT THEY DID PLAN ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS, HAD THAT TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS EXPIRED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAYS HE'S GOTTEN ASSURANCES THAT FEDERAL AUTHORITIES WILL GIVE HIM 24 HOURS NOTICE OF ANY INCREASED ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY.

MEANWHILE, AT THE STATEHOUSE, THERE ARE PROPOSALS TO REQUIRE LOCAL AGENCIES COOPERATE WITH IMMIGRATION AGENTS.

AND, ACTIVISTS URGE LOCAL JUDGES TO BAN I. C. E. ARRESTS INSIDE FRANKLIN COUNTY MUNICIPAL COURTHOUSE ROOMS AND HALLWAYS.

HOW MUCH SHOULD LOCAL AGENCIES BE COOPERATING WITH IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS RIGHT NOW?

>> IF THERE WERE A CRIME AND THEY ARE REQUIRED TO, THEY SHOULD.

BUT, I THINK IN THIS INSTANCE, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER FACTORS THAT GO INTO THIS, AND IT IS NOT THE SAME AS SOME OF THE OTHER TYPES OF IMMIGRATION ISSUES THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

YOU ARE SENDING PEOPLE BACK INTO HARM'S WAY, INTO A COUNTRY THAT --IN FACT, GOVERNOR DeWINE IS AN EXPERT ON AND KNOWS HOW DANGEROUS IT IS.

YOU HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE ACTUALLY AMERICAN CITIZENS AND THE PARENTS OF THESE CHILDREN --YOU HAVE DRIVER'S LICENSES BEING, YOU KNOW, CANCELED OUT, SO THAT PEOPLE CAN JUST BE STOPPED IN THE CAR AND TAKEN WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

THERE IS A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS.

AND YOU KNOW, I THINK, IF YOU LOOK AT MOST AMERICANS, IT IS THE WAY IN WHICH WE DO IT AND WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ACTUALLY GOING AFTER THE CRIMINAL ELEMENT, FIRST.

AND THAT IS WHAT HAS BEEN LOST.

>> SO, BACK TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED WHICH IS WHETHER OR NOT LOCALS SHOULD COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES, LET ME GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, THE INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN, THE FBI, PEOPLE WHO GO AFTER CHILD PORN, NOW, IMAGINE THE LOCAL COURTHOUSE KNOWS THAT THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE COURTHOUSE WHO HAS A COMPUTER HANGING ONTO CHILD PORN IN HERE COMES THE FBI TO GO ARREST THAT PERSON.

UNDER THIS THEORY OF, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO COOPERATE BECAUSE WE ARE A SANCTUARY AGAINST PEOPLE WHO HAVE A CHILD SEX MATERIALS OR MATERIAL ON THE COMPUTER, FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS TO ENFORCE FEDERAL LAW.

>> WOULDN'T THOSE FOLKS HAVE TO HAVE A WARRANT, THOUGH?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING, ARREST WARRANT AND SEARCH WARRANT ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS.

CERTAINLY, IF THE PEOPLE RUNNING THE COURTHOUSE NO, THIS PERSON WORKS HERE AND THAT COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT, WHETHER IT IS A WARRANT OR NOT, WE SHOULD BE COOPERATING.

PEOPLE HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW ON THE POLICY AND I HEAR YOU ON THE POLICY, YOU GO TO CONGRESS TO CHANGE POLICY.

YOU DON'T ASK FRONTLINE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

>> HERE IS THE OTHER PERSPECTIVE FROM A JUDGE'S POINT OF VIEW.

THE JUDGE WILL TELL YOU, I HAVE A CLIENT, WHO IS WAITING TO GO TO TRIAL AGAINST -- >> A JUDGE?

>> I HAVE A CLIENT, WHATEVER IT IS, IF YOU ARE A PROSECUTOR.

AND THEN, I. C. E. COMES IN, AND ARREST THAT PERSON AND THEY NEVER GET THEIR CHANCE IN COURT.

AND THAT HAS HAPPENED.

>> THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.

>> BUT, THEY AREN'T AND THEY COMMITTED A CRIME.

>> THE PROBLEM IS, WE DON'T HAVE DANGER IN THE COURTHOUSE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS SCREENED BEFORE YOU COME IN FOR GUNS AND WEAPONS, SO BY SAYING, WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THESE APPREHENSIONS TO HAPPEN IN A SAFE PLACE, THAT FORCES FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO IT IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE HAVE ROCKS AND GUNS AND KNIVES.

>> LAWMAKERS ARE TRYING TO REQUIRE LOCAL AGENCIES TO COOPERATE.

TRYING TO REQUIRE HOSPITALS TO COOPERATE WITH I. C. E. AND IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS.

DOES NOT VIOLATE THE HOME RULE?

HOW DO THEY GET AROUND THAT, THE HOME REAL PROVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION?

>> YOU WOULD NEED A LAWYER TO UNSPOOL IT.

YOU HAVE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CITIES TRYING TO PULL ONE WAY AND THE STATEHOUSE TRYING TO PULL THE OTHER WAY, I COULD NOT EVEN POSSIBLY BEGIN TO UNSPOOL THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S ALMOST TELLING IN HOW CHAOTIC THIS HAS BEEN.

YOU HAVE THREE PARTIES PULLING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, I SHOULD WEAR MASKS, I SHOULD NOT WEAR MASKS.

WHETHER YOU HAVE THE POLICY OR NOT, THEY HAVE SOME KIND OF LEGAL DEGREE OF CERTAINTY TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY, YOU GET SIGNALS THIS POLICY IS GOING TO END, YOU HAVE A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY THAT IS SAYING, WE MIGHT COME IN, WE MIGHT NOT COME IN, WE HAVE LITIGATION ON THIS BEING PING- PONGED AROUND DURING DIFFERENT LEVELS, NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN FEAR.

>> BUT, YOU ARE CLOSE WITH THE POLICE, YOU WORK WITH THE S. O. P. , HOW DO LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS, SHERIFFS DEPUTIES, HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT THIS?

DO THEY WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS?

>> I TALKED TO THEM EVERY DAY, AND THEY ARE APPALLED THAT THERE IS NOT COOPERATION, THAT THEIR POLITICAL LEADERS --AT THE STATE LEVEL, TYPICALLY -- ARE TELLING THEM NOT TO BACKUP THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THE WORST VIDEO WE SAW, AMONG THE WORST, WAS THE I. C. E. AGENT WHO HAD BEEN BEATEN WITH ROCKS BY A CROWD WHO IS ON HIS CELL PHONE, CALLING 911 IN MINNEAPOLIS SAYING, "WHERE'S THE LOCAL POLICE? "

ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN BEATEN BY A CROWD WITH ROCKS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CALL 911 AND GET BACK UP AND COPS ARE FRANKLY OFFENDED THAT THEY CAN'T BACKUP ANYBODY, LET ALONE A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

>> EXCEPT FOR SOMEONE BEING TACKLED BY I. C. E. , APPARENTLY THEY CAN CALL 911.

>> SURE, THEY CAN.

>> BUT, THEY DON'T RESPOND.

>> APPREHENDING SOMEBODY WHO HAS VIOLATED THE LAW IS WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DO EVERY DAY.

A DOMESTIC ABUSER IS RUNNING AWAY FROM THE SCENE, HERE IS WHAT COPS DO, THEY TALK -- TACKLE HIM, TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY AND SORT THINGS OUT IN COURT AND THAT IS THE WAY THINGS SHOULD GO.

>> I WILL SAY IN THE CASE OF THE JUDGES IN FAIRNESS TO THEM, THEY ARE TRYING TO RUN A COURTROOM, THEY ARE TRYING TO GIVE PEOPLE WHO HAD CRIMES COMMITTED AGAINST THEM THEIR DAY IN COURT AND SO MANY COMES IN AND TAKES THEM AWAY.

>> NOT IN THE COURTROOM, NONE OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN THE COURTROOM.

THIS IS IN THE HALLWAYS OF THE COURTHOUSE.

>> THEY NEVER GET TO THE COURTROOM.

>> THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> BUT, THEY COMMITTED A CRIME SO I CAN'T THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WORK FOR THEM?

>> BECAUSE THERE'S TWO CRIMES, THE LAW THAT THEY ARE IN COURT FOR AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS THAT, IF YOU COME HERE ILLEGALLY, IT IS A CRIME AND YOU CAN BE EITHER PROSECUTED OR DEPORTED.

>> I'M NOT SAYING THAT, I'M SAYING YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR DAY IN COURT IF CRIMES HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.

>> LET'S GET TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

> >> GOVERNOR DeWINE, THIS WEEK, PREDICTED OHIO'S SALES TAXES WOULD HAVE TO RISE FROM 6% TO 20%, IF VOTERS WERE TO GET RID OF PROPERTY TAXES.

OR, HE SAID, OHIO WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST INCOME TAX RATES IN THE COUNTRY.

STILL, SUPPORTERS OF A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO ABOLISH OHIO'S PROPERTY TAXES REMAIN UNDETERRED.

THEY CONTINUE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES TO GET THE QUESTION ON NOVEMBER'S BALLOT.

THEY HAVE TO COLLECT MORE THAN 400,000 VALID VOTERS' SIGNATURES BY JULY 1st.

AS FOR HOW MANY THEY HAVE COLLECTED SO FAR, A LEADER OF THE GROUP REFUSED TO SAY.

>> I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT.

HERE'S THE THING --IF WE DON'T MAKE OUR MARK BY JULY 1st, WE GET TO KEEP COLLECTING.

THOSE SIGNATURES ARE GOOD INDEFINITELY, UNLESS YOU DIE OR MOVE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT GOING TO STOP JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T GET IT BY JULY 1st.

IF WE DON''T --WHICH, I THINK WE WILL, BASED ON WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS MONTH, HOLY, MACKEREL, I THINK WE WILL.

NUT, IF WE DON'T THEN WE KEEP COLLECTING.

>> JAKE ZUCKERMAN, IT SEEMS LIKE THIS GRASSROOTS GROUP IS RELYING ON THEM TO SIGN THE PETITIONS AS MUCH AS THEY ARE RELYING ON PEOPLE TO GO OUT, WILL THAT WORK?

>> PROBABLY NOT IF THAT IS THE WHOLE STRATEGY.

YOU NEED 400,000 SIGNATURES YOU MENTIONED, YOU NEED THAT NUMBER TIMES TWO BECAUSE MANY ARE NOT GOING TO COUNT, YOU NEED THEM FROM 44 COUNTIES.

THE MAGNET STRATEGY, WHICH IS NOW MY TERM, TRADEMARK RESERVED --I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD POSSIBLY GET TO THE RIGHT NUMBERS WITH A STRATEGY LIKE THAT.

>> SHE WAS POINTING OUT THIS IS RE-EVALUATION TIME, PROPERTY TAX TIME, PEOPLE GETTING THEIR BILLS AND GETTING MAD.

THEY HAVE A WEBSITE WHERE YOU HAVE EVERY COUNTY, YOU CAN CLICK ON WHERE TO FIND THE SIGNATURE, YOU KNOW, THE PETITION SIGNATURE GATHERER.

BUT, MARK, YOU HAVE A PRIMARY ELECTION COMING UP IN MAY.

>> THAT IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET IT.

THE BALLOT QUESTIONS OVER THE YEARS, THEY ARE HARD TO GET ON THE BALLOT, BUT THE BEST PLACE TO GET SIGNATURES IS PEOPLE COMING OUT OF A POLLING PLACE BECAUSE WE ARE PRETTY SURE THEY ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE SO THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE ENERGY FOR PROPERTY TAX REFORM.

THAT IS PALPABLE.

THERE IS AN ENERGY BEHIND THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS GETTING THE RIGHT PERSON TO SIGN THE RIGHT PETITION IN THE RIGHT WAY, SO THAT SIGNATURE CAN COUNT, SO IT'S VERY HARD TO DO.

>> THE SIGNATURE GATHERERS, ARE PAID TO COLLECT THESE SIGNATURES, BECAUSE WHEN THEY DO THAT, THEY AFFILIATE WITH ANOTHER GROUP, AND THEN THEY GET TO CALL SOME OF THE SHOTS AND THEY DON'T WANT THAT.

>> HISTORY WOULD SAY IT IS VERY UNLIKELY, BUT THEY WILL GET THERE.

HOWEVER, JUST THE FACT THEY ARE GATHERING SIGNATURES CAN HAVE AN IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, AS A NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIAL HERE, I CAN TELL YOU THAT PEOPLE DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF WHAT THIS WILL BE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY.

SHOULD IT BE FILED IN JULY?

AND I HAVE TALKED TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO GIVE CREDIT FOR PAYING FOR FIRE TRUCKS, PAYING FOR POLICE CARS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

YOUR CREDIT WILL DRY UP IN A MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE IT IS BASED UPON THAT FUTURE INCOME YOU ARE GOING TO GET.

NOW, IT WILL GO BACK UP IF IT FAILS.

YOU WILL STILL HAVE YOUR CREDIT.

IF IT DOESN'T GO BACK UP, YOU HAVE NONE.

BUT, THEN, WHEN BOND COLLECTIONS COME IN, YOUR BONDHOLDERS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO COLLECT THEIR MONEY.

>> THE TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE, NEWLY ELECTED POINT LIKE YOU BECAME ONE OF THEM.

>> I DID!

>> I MEANT, A POLITICIAN, NOT THE TRUSTEE OF THE TOWNSHIP.

>> WELL, WHEN THEY WENT BANKRUPT, BONDHOLDERS, THEY HAVE TO GO AFTER THE MONEY.

THEY WERE GOING AFTER ART IN THE ART MUSEUM, THEY WERE GOING AFTER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE AND BRIDGES.

THIS WILL BANKRUPT PEOPLE.

IT WILL BE SURPRISING, HOW MANY THINGS THAT WE, AS THE PUBLIC, OWN THAT WON'T BE OWNED ANYMORE.

>> BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN, JAKE, BECAUSE GOVERNOR DeWINE WILL INCREASE --HE WON'T BE GOVERNOR, PROBABLY --BUT HE WILL INCREASE SALES TAX TO 20%, DOES HE HAVE THE VOTES IN THE LEGISLATURE TO DO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

BUT, YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT FISCAL CRISIS, I WOULD NOT WRITE OFF THE POSSIBILITY OF OF SOME KIND OF SHOCK REACTION LIKE THAT.

ON THE BOND ISSUE, I WILL POINT OUT A FEW YEARS BACK LAWMAKERS HAD THIS IDEA OF, WOULD MAKE IT HARDER TO RAISE TAXES, LET'S SAY YOU NEED A SUPER MAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE TAXES.

SOME CREDIT AGENCIES CAME IN AND SAID --I DON'T THINK THEY WERE HARD AND FAST, BUT WE WOULD CONSIDER DECREASING THE STATE OF OHIO'S CREDIT RATING BECAUSE IF YOU GUYS REALLY NEEDED REVENUE, IT WOULD BE MUCH HARDER TO GET IT.

THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT GETTING 60 LAWMAKERS TO VOTE FOR SOMETHING INSTEAD OF 50.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN YOU KNOCK OUT ONE LEG OF A THREE LEGGED STOOL?

>> BUT, NERVOUS ABOUT THIS, COMING OUT WITH THESE DIRE PREDICTIONS?

>> GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS BEEN A GOOD MANAGER OF GOVERNMENT IN LARGE MEASURE AND HE HAS BEEN IN GOVERNMENT A LONG TIME, HE KNOWS HOW THINGS WORK.

THERE IS AN OLD SAYING, YOU NEVER IGNORE AN OLD, BARKING DOG.

MY OLD FRIEND, MIKE DeWINE, HOPEFULLY WON'T BE MAD AT THAT COMPARISON, BUT SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN AROUND A LONG TIME SOUNDING AN ALARM, SHOULD AT LEAST BE LISTENED TO.

> >> OHIO'S RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGAL MARIJUANA IS ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD, AND IT IS COMPLICATED.

FOR LAWMAKERS, THE RELATIONSHIP WAS FORCED UPON THEM WHEN VOTERS LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF DEBATE, THEY RECENTLY CHANGED THE LAW, TIGHTENING RESTRICTIONS, AND BANNING OHIOANS FROM SEEING OTHER PEOPLE TO GET HIGH, BY BANNING INTOXICATING HEMP AND THC DRINKS.

HEMP PRODUCERS AND SELLERS ARE TRYING TO REPEAL THAT LAW, BUT, THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY IS CAMPAIGNING AGAINST THE REPEAL.

NATIONALLY, SOME BIG SUPPORTERS OF LEGALIZATION MAY BE HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS.

"THE NEW YORK TIMES," FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK, URGED TIGHTER RESTRICTIONS IN AN EDITORIAL TITLED, "IT'S TIME FOR AMERICA TO ADMIT IT HAS A MARIJUANA PROBLEM. "

MARK WEAVER, THE CAMPAIGN TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA WAS CALLED, "TREAT IT LIKE ALCOHOL. "

ALCOHOL HAS ITS SHARE OF PROBLEMS, OF COURSE, WE ALL KNOW THEM.

SHOULD IT BE A SURPRISE THAT IF WE TREAT MARIJUANA LIKE ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA WILL HAVE PROBLEMS?

>> A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND IN SOME CASES, WORSE THAN ALCOHOL.

WE KNOW WHAT IT DOES TO THE BRAIN, WE NOW HAVE EVIDENCE.

THOSE PEOPLE WHO SMOKED POT 40 YEARS AGO WHO SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL, THE THC TODAY IS 100 FOLD MORE POWERFUL AND THE NOTION OF GOING TO BIG CITIES AND SMELLING MARIJUANA, IS THE SMELL OF FAILURE, EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

I WAS IN NEW YORK CITY LAST YEAR, I STEPPED OUT OF THE TRAIN STATION AND IMMEDIATELY, YOU SMELL MARIJUANA.

NOBODY WANTS THAT IN OHIO.

THE LAW IS IN PLACE NOW, THAT SHOULD STAY IN PLACE, THAT WOULD REQUIRE PEOPLE IF THEY WANT TO SMOKE POT, TO SMOKE IT IN THEIR PRIVATE HOME.

BUT WHAT A SHOCK THAT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" HAS ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE WAY TOO OUT THERE, SUGGESTING, "PAY NO ATTENTION TO MARIJUANA, IT'S HARMLESS. "

>> IS THIS A DIFFERENT BRAND AND SPORTS BETTING?

THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE BETTING SORT OF WITH THEIR BOOKIE ARE JUST GOING TO BET ONLINE, BUT, NO, IT EXPLODED.

MARIJUANA USE HAS REALLY -- >> BOTH OF THEM HAVE SOCIETAL ISSUES AND WE ARE IN THIS ERA WHERE PEOPLE DECIDED IT IS GOING TO GROW AND WE SORT OF HAVE TO GET OUR HANDS ON IT.

I HAVE SAID IT BEFORE, PRESIDENT TRUMP, ACTUALLY, FINALLY CHANGED THE SCHEDULE OF IT BECAUSE ONE OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE MARIJUANA INDUSTRY, ACTUALLY, IS CASH ONLY BUSINESS, WHICH CAUSES OTHER TYPES OF CORRUPTION THAT CAN HAPPEN.

SO, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

BUT, YOU ARE ALSO GETTING INTO THE ERA OF BIG MARIJUANA AGAINST HEMP SALES, AND SO, YOU ARE SORT OF DEALING WITH THOSE SEPARATELY.

>> THE STATE HAS RECEIVED $180 MILLION IN MARIJUANA SALES AND EXCISE TAXES.

SINCE IT WAS MADE LEGAL.

THAT'S NOT A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> IT IS A LOT OF MONEY AND THERE IS KIND OF A FREEDOM ISSUE UNDERPINNING ALL OF IT, SHOULDN'T AN ADULT HAVE THE RIGHT TO DESTROY THEIR LUNGS, SMELL LIKE FAILURE?

WHATEVER YOU CALL IT.

THE INTERESTING THING "THE NEW YORK TIMES" WAS GETTING INTO IN THAT EDITORIAL WAS, MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE CORPORATE BEHAVIOR, HERE.

SOME OF THE MARKETING, SOME OF THE POTENCY OF THESE PRODUCTS.

TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THAT --I MEAN, THAT'S NOT BEING ADDRESSED IN THIS BILL, SENATE BILL 56, AT ALL.

AND MOREOVER, THAT'S NOT REALLY THE FOCUS.

ATTORNEY GENERAL TO DAVE YOST JUST HAD A PRICE-FIXING LAWSUIT AGAINST NINE MARIJUANA COMPANIES, THAT'S THE MOST AGGRESSIVE ACTION I HAVE SEEN ON THE CORPORATE SIDE, BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS.

YOU KNOW, THE FOLKS ON SENATE BILL 56 WITH MARIJUANA, THINGS LIKE KEEPING IT STORED IN YOUR TRUNK, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A MOVE THAT PROTECTS THE INDUSTRY MORE THAN ANYTHING.

> >> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS, MARK WEAVER YOU ARE UP FIRST.

>> THERE WAS A THOUGHT- PROVOKING OP-ED FROM A LOCAL RESIDENT AND COLUMBUS SCHOOL GRADUATE, BUT SUGGESTED THAT THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS HAVE GOTTEN SO BIG AND ARE STARTING TO HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS, MAYBE IT'S TIME TO BREAK IT INTO FOUR OR FIVE SMALLER DISTRICTS.

IT'S A SMART READ.

I RECOMMEND PEOPLE TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.

SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE.

>> BRIAN?

>> LEGISLATURE IS ABOUT TO TACKLE WITH SOME OF THESE BIG, BIG ENERGY SUCKING -- >> DATA CENTERS?

>> DATA CENTERS, THANK YOU.

THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT RESTORING THE ACTUAL PROPERTY TAXES ON IT.

IT'S A REAL PROBLEM, BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING COMING OUT OF THAT, REVENUE LIES, YOU STILL HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR IT.

>> JAKE?

>> I WANTED TO GIVE A RESIDENT PIECE TO STEVE STEIN GLASS, A MAN WHO LIVED AND BREATHED THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, HE WROTE A BOOK ON THE OHIO CONSTITUTION, SPENT THE BULK OF HIS 80s DEFENDING WHAT HE SAW AS A POLITICAL ATTACK ON THE OHIO CONSTITUTION AND HE WAS VERY, VERY CHARITABLE WITH HIS TIME AND ACTUALLY SPENDING CHAPTERS OF HIS BOOK REPORTERS WHO ARE NOT LAWYERS, SO REST IN PEACE, MR.

STEIN GLASS.

>> THE SNOW IS MELTING.

>> IT IS.

>> IT IS GOING TO SNOW MORE NEXT WEEK BUT I WANT TO GIVE A THANK YOU TO THE METROPARKS AND THE CITIES LIKE DUBLIN WHO PLOW THEIR BIKE TRAILS AND WALKING TRAILS.

THEY DO A WONDERFUL JOB.

OR, SOMETIMES, THEN THE CITY DOES ON THE STREETS, OFTEN TIMES.

FOR US RUNNERS, DOG WALKERS, BIKERS, WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK YOU DO TO KEEP THOSE PATHS CLEAR AND KEEP US SAFE.

> >> THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION ONLINE.

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