OLYMPIA – State Auditor Troy Kelley returned to work Wednesday, the morning after a federal jury acquitted him of one charge and couldn’t reach a verdict on 14 others.

Kelley, who had been on leave for about five weeks during the trial, was not talking to the news media, a spokesman said. Deputy Auditor Jan Jutte, who has run the office during this absence and a seven-month leave last year after charges were filed, said she met with Kelley in the morning and believes it’s his plan to continuing coming to work as he did before the trial.

She didn’t know if that would change if federal prosecutors decide to retry him on the counts for which the jury couldn’t reach a verdict.

Nothing has changed for other workers in the office, Jutte said:  “We’re continuing on, like we have been.” 

The office is on the November ballot and Kelley previously said he would finish out his term if acquitted and not seek re-election.

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