Wilsonville, OR – The Oregon Republican Party’s call for an ethics investigation into Governor Kate Brown, following the release of undercover footage that raised questions into potentially illegal campaign activity, is gaining national attention.
“Kate Brown needs to address the public and answer whether she violated ethics laws by using public funds for campaign purposes, as alleged by her former campaign manager,” said Oregon Republican Party Chair Bill Currier. “Voters should hear directly from Brown, and Oregonians deserve an independent investigation into these troubling allegations.”
Check out some of the coverage of Kate Brown’s growing ethics scandal:
AP: Oregon GOP ask for ethics investigation into Kate Brown’s campaign
The Oregon Republican Party has filed a complaint with the state’s ethics commission, asking for an investigation into whether Democratic Gov. Kate Brown used public funds for campaign purposes after a video from a conservative activist surfaced.
The complaint cited a Project Veritas sting in which former Brown campaign manager Michael Kolenc alleged he was fired in 2016 because Ms. Brown’s chief-of-staff wanted to run the political operation, a violation of state law.
Ms. Brown has also packed campaign fundraisers into her government-paid trips for official business, such as a two-day trip in May in which she gave a commencement address in Boulder, Colorado, and hit 10 campaign events at a cost to the state of $8,277, according to a Forbes investigation.
OPB: Oregon Republicans Ask For Ethics Investigation Into Brown Campaign
Kolenc was caught on tape telling Project Veritas’ staffer that Brown’s then-chief of staff Kristen Leonard wanted to “be in charge of everything” and was violating the law by being involved in both Brown’s official capacity and her campaign side. State law prohibits public employees from being involved in the campaign side “while on the job during working hours.”
Forbes: Is Oregon Governor Kate Brown Asking Taxpayers To Fund Her Re-Election Campaign?
According to Oregon law, public funds cannot be used for a political purpose. Yet, data we’ve compiled at OpenTheBooks.com shows a troubling pattern of Governor Kate Brown mixing taxpayer-funded travel with campaign fundraising events.
This pattern could allegedly violate state law or the governor’s own ethics policy, which states, “employees are expressly prohibited from using any work time or any state resources to conduct political activities.”
“The more Kate Brown preaches about her record on ethics, the more her actions show that she doesn’t believe ethics laws apply to her,” added Chair Currier. “Kate Brown mustn’t be allowed to ‘Pull a Kitzhaber’ and dupe voters by dodging scrutiny for her troubling ethics until after election day.”
The Oregon Republican Party is the state’s arm of the Republican National Committee. Its Chairman and officers are dedicated to promoting Republican principles within the state of Oregon and to improving the lives and livelihoods of Oregon’s working families through economic freedom and equal protection under the law.
Link to Online Posting:
https://oregon.gop/icymi-orp-calls-for-ethics-investigation-into-kate-brown-2018-10-12
###