Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann, under pressure from both parties to resign over sexual harassment by an aide and his own extramarital affair, tried to cut a deal Tuesday to leave office but failed, according to lawmakers.

The Democrat offered to step down if lawmakers delayed a planned investigation into his scandal-plagued office by 90 days, Democratic Rep. Robert Hagan and a spokeswoman for Republican Senate President Bill Harris said.

Instead, a bill approved by both houses Tuesday and signed by Gov. Ted Strickland that evening allows the state watchdog to begin investigating his office immediately.

Dann had not resigned by Tuesday evening, his spokesman saying he "decided to continue doing his job."

Earlier in the day, House Democrats also tried to start impeachment proceedings against Dann, only to be dismissed as moving too fast by the Republicans in power.

Dann admitted May 2 to an extramarital affair with an employee that he said contributed to an atmosphere leading to sexual harassment claims against a top aide. Three aides were forced out in the harassment investigation, which showed managers encouraged a casual work environment with frequent profanity and inappropriate interactions with subordinates.

Hagan, a longtime Dann ally from his hometown of Youngstown, said he was asked by Dann's attorney Michael Harshman to help negotiate a delay in the investigation. Hagan said Dann had hoped "cooler heads" would prevail over time.

Messages were left with Harshman seeking comment.

Hagan said that, at Dann's request, he asked Harris whether he would remove the measure, but Harris declined.

"Sen. Harris was not willing to cut a deal," Harris spokeswoman Maggie Ostrowski said Tuesday.

Senate Minority Leader Ray Miller told The Columbus Dispatch that a resignation appeared forthcoming, but he did not say exactly when Dann might step down.

Dann told The Plain Dealer of Cleveland that he was not quitting Tuesday.

"At this point, that's not what I'm going to do," Dann told the paper.

"The Attorney General has said that he does not believe there are grounds for impeachment, and he will continue to do the job that he was elected to do," his spokesman Jason Stanford said in a written statement.

Democrats drafted nine articles of impeachment against Dann on Tuesday, ranging from allegations of gross immorality to obstructing the investigation into his office and making misleading statements.

The Democrats' resolution, researched by three lawmakers, accused Dann of making misleading statements under oath and said he should have known his actions created a hostile work environment.

"We promised the people of Ohio to end a culture of corruption that existed in the past, and we are fulfilling that promise by cleaning our own house when events and circumstances warrant," the three lawmakers said in a statement.

Democrats need backing from Republicans who control the Legislature in order to send the impeachment charges to the Senate for a trial, but Republican House Speaker Jon Husted ridiculed Democrats for what he called the "political act" of rashly filing impeachment articles to appear tough on a member of their own party. Both sides are maneuvering to take ownership of a process that Ohio hasn't used since 1820.

Republicans first want the assistance of the inspector general before proceeding with impeachment, while Democrats believe their impeachment proposal is sufficient to move forward immediately.

"It's shameful to use the Constitution for political ends, shameful to use the impeachment process for political ends, and I won't be part of it," Husted said. "We're going to make sure that what we do is going to be a process set forth that's going to stand the test of time."

If Dann resigns or is impeached, Strickland has "almost blanket authority" to appoint a successor, Ohio Democratic Party Chairman Chris Redfern has said. Voters would need to confirm Strickland's pick at the polls on the same day they'll vote for president, Nov. 4.

The governor and Dann were among many Ohio Democrats swept into office in 2006 in the wake of a Republican scandal over state investments managed by a prominent GOP donor.

Associated Press writer Stephen Majors contributed to this report.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press