Sources: Dann negotiating his exit after offering his resignation

COLUMBUS -- Channel 3 News learned Tuesday that embattled Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann offered to resign earlier that day.

At least two sources say Dann told his staff Tuesday that he intends to resign and was negotiating the terms of his resignation.

State Rep. Robert Hagan, a Youngstown Democrat, said Dann offered to resign if an investigation into his scandal-plagued office is delayed.

Hagan says Dann wanted a bill allowing the state inspector general to investigate his office to take effect in 90 days.

Legislative leaders refused the offer and by Tuesday evening, the attorney general had not resigned.

Hagan says Dann asked Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted, a Republican, in a phone call Tuesday to remove the measure that has the bill taking effect as soon as Gov. Ted Strickland signs the bill. Hagan says Husted refused.

Both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate approved the bill Tuesday and Strickland, a Democrat, signed it immediately.

The AG's office spokesman Jacob Sullivan released a statement just after 4 p.m. Tuesday. It read: "Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann has not resigned and no further announcements are planned."

As Ohio House Democrats began impeachment proceedings Tuesday morning, House Republicans prepared the legislation Tuesday that would give Inspector General Thomas Charles the authority to investigate the AG's office internal sexual harassment probe and general mismanagement by Dann's office.

Dann spokeswoman Jennifer Brindisi says she had not heard Dann planned to resign.

This as Dann faced intense pressure from both fellow Democrats and Republicans to resign, as the Ohio House began the impeachment process and as House Republicans prepared to have the state inspector general investigate an internal probe of Dann's office.