In 2005, Governor Bob Taft was convicted of four counts of failing to file accurate financial disclosure statements but said he would not resign his office despite the conviction, which grew out of the Coingate scandal exposed by "The Toledo Blade". Johnson, who would become governor if Taft resigned, told "The Plain Dealer" "You don't take this appointment and go through the confirmation process without knowing that you're prepared. But I don't expect it" and said he had not spoken to Taft about becoming governor. Johnson was by "The Columbus Dispatch" that "It's not gonna happen. The governor is going to serve out his term. But if something were to happen, I'm prepared to serve as governor."