COLUMBUS, Ohio — Several key witnesses testified in Ohio's trial against two of the state's top pension leaders, who are accused of participating in a multi-billion-dollar corruption scheme.

"It's the erosion of confidence in the institution that safeguards retirement security for Ohio's teachers," Assistant Attorney General Chad Kohler said.

The state is arguing that the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) board chair, Rudy Fichtenbaum, should be removed from his position, and Franklin County Court of Common Pleas Judge Karen Held Phipps should ban both him and former board member Wade Steen from ever returning to public pensions.

"There's been no proof of any of the salacious accusations," Norman Abood, attorney for Wade Steen, said. Ohio teachers' pension fund corruption trial b

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