Mike DeWine
Role at the time: Mike DeWine, sitting state governor
Defended or excused
Statement summary
DeWine defended Flock cameras as a routine investigative tool and called for action against abuses.
“There can be abuses. When there are abuses, we have to take action.”
Open source (opens in a new tab)New Ohio bill targets misuse of Flock surveillance camerasGovernor quotation and surrounding reader-policy discussion
The Columbus Dispatch attributed these remarks to DeWine speaking to reporters on August 10, 2026. AOL reproduced the report.
Why we used this label
DeWine expressly defends the tool's usefulness and calls for action against misuse. His general accountability demand does not suspend his present support.