Thursday, a 41-page, 73-count indictment was filed charging seven current and elected officials, prominent business leaders and organizations from the Valley in the Oakhill scandal.
Many people are demanding answers and calling for resignations.
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Dave Betras said he's deeply concerned about the indictments handed out to Auditor Michael Sciortino, Commissioner John McNally and other current and former officials and business leaders. But he said this is not a time for anyone to jump to conclusions.
"I really think we need a little bit of patience right now, and let this play out and let the process take its course," said Betras.
No one involved is downplaying the severity of these serious felony and misdemeanor corruption charges, but at this point, they're simply charges.
It will be up to the state and special prosecutors to prove their case in court.
"I've seen enough about Oakhill to believe, in my opinion, that the state's going to have a difficult time proving all of these charges," said Louis DeFabio, John Reardon's attorney.
DeFabio and other attorneys for the accused said their clients did not testify during the grand jury, and they offered to sit down with special prosecutors for weeks, months and even years before these indictments came out.
"You've had this investigation going on for several months," said DeFabio. "Why wait until the end. But if you get an extension, basically lets talk about it again, and the issue never came up again."
Arraignments are scheduled for Tuesday morning in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Meanwhile, local Republican leaders said the indictments are just the latest example of the political corruption that's crippling the Valley.
Mahoning County Republican Party Chairman Mark Munroe said, unfortunately, there's a long list of Valley politicians and elected officials who've been indicted and convicted before. He said the Valley needs to move forward with strong political leaders and competition from both parties.
But now, these new charges of corruption keep a black cloud hanging over Mahoning County.
"We've got such a history of corrupt political officials, it impacts everything we do in the valley," said Munroe. "It affects the decisions of businesses to locate here, it makes this a less desirable place to call home, to raise a family, and to start a business."
Munroe pointed out that the indictments are just charges and that no one has been convicted of anything. Like his counterpart Dave Betras, Munroe said we have to let the judicial process take it's course, and the facts will come out in court.
