DA still working cases, set to give up control Sept. 1

Hamilton County District Attorney General Neal Pinkston, who lost his bid to hold onto his job in the May 3 primary election, has begun preparations to hand over command by Sept. 1 to the winner of the Aug. 4 general election, according to his office spokesperson.

Coty Wamp, who won the Republican primary against Pinkston with over 70% of the vote, will face Democratic candidate John Allen Brooks, who garnered 5,873 votes in his uncontested run on the Democratic ballot.

“General Pinkston took some time off from the office to rest after the election,” said the office spokesperson, Bruce Garner, in an email on Thursday. “He then started to resume work from home.”

In a previous statement to the Times Free Press, Pinkston’s office said he would continue working cases until the change of command.

“During this transition phase, General Pinkston will remain in charge and will continue the work required of the district attorney,” Garner said. “He will be working in the office and at home, until Aug. 31.”

Pinkston said there have been some recent staff departures, and he commended them for their contributions to the office.

“A few individuals have indicated that they will be leaving the office to pursue other opportunities,” Pinkston said in an email. “That’s not unexpected following a contested election. We still have a great staff, and we’ll continue to get the job done until this office is handed off to whoever wins the general election in August.”

Prosecutor Andrew Coyle announced to Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman during a motion hearing on Monday that his last day at the district attorney’s office would be May 27.

Melydia Clewell, Pinkston’s former chief of staff, stepped down from her position on May 17. The former television journalist was first hired by Pinkston as a public information officer. He later married her and hired her brother, as previously reported by the Times Free Press.

Amid complaints of nepotism, Pinkston stood by his actions, saying they were legally and ethically sound. The state Comptroller’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office disagreed, saying the arrangement violated state nepotism law in letters they issued in February. Pinkston placed the Clewells on paid leave at that time, and Kerry Clewell also resigned as of May 17.