Inslee demands answers from state auditor
OLYMPIA – State Auditor Troy Kelley, who turned down a request to appear before a legislative committee Wednesday, got a new request for information from elsewhere in the Capitol.
Gov. Jay Inslee demanded answers from the embattled state official about the federal investigation involving the auditor’s office, citing authority given by the state constitution.
In a letter to Kelley on Tuesday evening, which Inslee released after a news conference Wednesday, the governor asked what specific changes Kelley has made in the operations of his office since becoming aware of the investigation. He also asked whether that probe is affecting work the office is performing and whether there are any conflicts or interests that might affect the office.
Finally, he asked for extensive data about Jason Jerue, a former business associate of Kelley before he became auditor, who was hired part-time by the office as a technical writer after Kelley’s election in 2012.
Kelley responded to the governor in writing on Wednesday.
“While the intense media coverage may have been a distraction, there is no change or impact on our audit and field operations,” Kelley wrote. “We have anecdotal evidence of public disappointment that I am not able to speak to the media and the public about federal investigators’ search of my home and subpoena for certain documents from our Office. The public comments we have received are not directed at the Office, our employees, or the excellent work the State Auditor’s Office is doing.”
Kelley also said in the letter released Wednesday afternoon that an employee of the auditor’s office who was the subject of a federal subpoena was on a requested leave of absence.
Earlier Wednesday, the Senate Accountability and Reform Committee held what it called a work session on office integrity and ethical standards in the Auditor’s Office. Last week Committee Chairman Mark Miloscia, R-Federal Way, and a one-time opponent of Kelley’s in the 2012 primary for state auditor, sent him a letter asking him to attend. He skipped the meeting and sent two of his top deputies instead. They discussed in detail the steps taken to ensure ethics and accountability as well as legislative subpoena powers.
Legislative subpoenas are rarely used, said Sam Thompson, a committee staff member. One hasn’t been issued since 1988, and that one, which sought records of alleged child abuse by a superior court judge from the state Judicial Conduct Commission was quashed by the state Supreme Court as a violation of confidentiality rules.
Sen. Pramila Jayapal, the ranking Democrat on the Accountability and Reform Committee, said she is concerned about the Legislature intervening.
“As much as we all want answers, I believe that the state Legislature’s role at this point should be to step aside and not interfere in the federal investigation,” Jayapal, of Seattle, said at the hearing. “I believe we risk politicizing an issue of utmost importance to the citizens of the state of Washington.”
Miloscia said he was concerned by the auditor’s “decision to go in hiding from the media, from the public, and now, the Legislature.”
“All elected officials must be held accountable to the public,” Miloscia said. “That is our responsibility and our duty.”
Inslee said he has encouraged Kelley “to be open with the public about anything he could be open about” during the investigation. The two talked about a week ago, when Kelley called to say he would be returning from vacation after the federal investigation became public.
Although the auditor’s office is in a building across the street from Inslee’s office in the state Capitol, the two have not talked since Kelley returned. “We haven’t had chit chats,” Inslee said, adding he would want these answers in writing.