Lawyer Wants Abuse Of Power Issues In Report Investigation On Lowry Allegations To Be Done Soon

A report on the investigation of sexual harassment allegations against Gov. Mike Lowry should include information on “verbal or physical abuse of power” by the governor, the attorney for former press aide Susanne Albright says.

A copy of a letter from the attorney for Albright, who made the allegations, was obtained by The Olympian newspaper through the state’s Open Public Records Act. The Feb. 22 letter from attorney Larry Finegold was written to Kent Caputo, the governor’s lawyer.

“The scope of the report and investigation should include all information brought to Ms. Theiler’s attention concerning sexual harassment, verbal or physical abuse of power, and the other matters which we raised with (former Executive Counsel) Jenny Durkan and Kent Caputo,” Finegold wrote.

Before release of the letters, Finegold had said that only issues of sexual harassment were being investigated by Seattle attorney Mary Alice Theiler.

Theiler’s report is expected to be released as early as this week. “That can take the form of abuse of power which I would define as the misuse of one’s authority in the work setting.”

The governor’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

The letters also indicated the governor’s office will have the final say on whether Finegold will get Theiler’s report before it is released publicly, and what will be released.